What are Crowns and Bridges?

What are Crowns and Bridges?

Learn more about these common dental restorations and how they could preserve your beautiful smile.restorative dentistry

While we all want to maintain healthy smiles, there are certain oral problems that can befall anyone. If you are dealing with a damaged tooth or tooth loss, our Glenview, IL, dentists - Dr. David Dooley, Dr. David Lewis, Jr., and Dr. Alexander Quezada - are here to help you decide whether a dental crown or bridge is right for you.

When are Dental Crowns Used?

If you are faced with a broken, weak, damaged, infected or severely decaying tooth, then a dental crown may be the restoration that will turn your smile around. This specially made restoration is designed to look just like a real tooth and is made to fit over and cover the entire visible portion of a tooth to protect it and restore strength.

While dental crowns typically are used to restore function and resilience back into an unstable tooth, they can also be used to improve and enhance a tooth’s appearance. If you are dealing with a misshapen or severely stained tooth, you may choose to get a dental crown to hide these imperfections and instantly improve the look of your smile.

If you are dealing with tooth loss, a dental crown may also be used to support a dental bridge or to cover a dental implant.

When are Dental Bridges Used?

Are you dealing with a gap in your smile from a missing tooth? Do you have a couple teeth missing in a row? Are the rest of your teeth healthy and strong? If so, then you could be an ideal candidate for dental bridges. A dental bridge fills that gap with one or more artificial teeth.

However, before these artificial teeth can be placed, two dental crowns must be secured over the two teeth that are situated on both sides of the gap. Once these natural teeth are prepared and the crowns are cemented into place, only then can the pontic (or false tooth) be secured to the crowns.

Colonial Dental Group in Glenview, IL, prides itself on providing the very best dental care possible. Whether you need to get a dental crown or you want to chat about professional teeth whitening, we are here for you!