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Restore Damaged & Missing Teeth
Crowns & Bridges
If you have a damaged or missing tooth, our skilled team can restore your smile and your bite with our lab-made crowns & bridges. Our team can help you with a custom solution to improve your smile and prevent further complications. To find out how we can help, schedule a consultation at our office today!
What Are Lab-Made Crowns?
Understanding the Basics
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped dental prostheses that are designed to cover up and replace your entire tooth after it has been trimmed. A crown can restore your smile and bite, and protect your existing natural tooth structure. We use high-quality, lab-made porcelain crowns at Twenty28 Dentistry.
Dental crowns are used for a variety of purposes including:
- Restoring large cavities
- Protecting your tooth after a root canal
- Repairing broken or cracked teeth
- Replacing missing teeth when used with dental implants
- Cosmetic purposes like covering up a misshapen tooth
What to Expect
The Dental Crown Placement Process
It takes two appointments to place a dental crown, in most cases. At your first appointment, your mouth will be cleaned and numbed, and we will trim your tooth to prepare it for your crown. Then, we will take images and impressions of your teeth, and send them to a dental lab where your crown will be made. This process takes 2-3 weeks, so you will get a temporary crown to protect your newly-trimmed tooth. Once your crown arrives at our office, you’ll come in for your second appointment. One of our doctors will check the fit of your crown, and make minor adjustments if necessary. Using sturdy dental cement, it will be bonded in place permanently.
After your crown is placed, you will likely feel some minor discomfort around the treatment area. However, this should go away within a few days. During this time, it is important to eat mostly soft foods, and be gentle when brushing and flossing around this area.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Understanding the Basics
Dental bridges consist of two dental crowns, which attach to two healthy teeth (abutment teeth). These crowns are used to support one or more false teeth (pontics). These pontics are used to “bridge” the gap left by one or more missing teeth, restoring your smile and your bite.
Dental bridges are a good choice for replacing missing teeth, especially if you are missing multiple adjacent teeth, or your jaw bone is not strong or healthy enough for a dental implant.
What to Expect
The Dental Bridge Placement Process
At your first appointment, your mouth will be numbed and your abutment teeth will be trimmed and prepared for your bridge. Then, one of our doctors will take impressions and images of your teeth and send them to a dental lab. You’ll be sent home with temporary crowns or a temporary bridge while your bridge is being built.
After about 2-3 weeks, your bridge will arrive at our office. We’ll notify you and you’ll come back to have it fitted. You may need to come back for multiple fittings to ensure your bridge fits perfectly. Once the fit is right, we will be bond your bridge into place permanently with dental cement, completing the procedure.
After your bridge has been placed, you’ll only feel minor discomfort near the area for a few days. It’s a good idea to stick to eating softer foods during this time to lessen your discomfort. It also may feel a little bit strange to chew, at first, but you’ll get used to it in no time!
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