What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns and Bridges

What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns and Bridges

Apr 01, 2021
Crown and bridges are popular treatments in restorative dentistry. Dentists use these dental devices to improve the appearance and functioning of damaged teeth.

What Are Dental Crowns?

Crowns are used in several instances. Mostly, they cover chipped, broken and teeth that are damaged by the effects of dental decay. They can also be used aesthetically if you do not feel confident about your smile. Crowns can also be used with dental implants to top the artificial titanium pole. The dentist in Northwest Calgary also uses dental crowns after root canal therapy to reinforce the tooth, protecting it from further damage.

Types of Crowns

There are three main types of crowns liable to the material used. The kinds of crown best for you depend on where it’s being placed in the mouth, durability, and appearance. Metal Crowns They are mostly made using gold and other metals used in dentistry, like silver. Metallic crowns have these benefits:
  • String and very long-lasting
  • Involve less tooth removal
  • Metal crowns are more comfortable and less traumatic to the teeth when biting down.
Gold crowns are costly as they are durable and generally provide a wear value. Ceramic Ceramic crowns are porcelain-based. They have high tooth aesthetics as they can be adjusted to match your natural teeth’ color shade. Porcelain crowns are mostly recommended for front teeth. Benefits:
  • Durable and smooth hence comfortable
  • Natural tooth shine hence great aesthetics
Porcelain-fused-to metal Also called PFM crowns, the materials combine the strength of metal and aesthetics of ceramics. The end product is stronger than porcelain and resin crowns but not as sturdy as metal crowns. Benefits
  • Great aesthetics
  • Strong and long-lasting

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns at Tooth works dental offer these benefits:
  • Protection and restoration
Dental crowns are the best devices to reinforce a damaged tooth or one at risk for tooth decay. After a root canal treatment, the tooth is left weak and brittle, so it must be protected using a dental crown.
  • Aesthetics
In addition to tooth protection, dental crowns also add aesthetic value to your teeth. They help to restore your teeth’ natural shape and color, and even strength. They are made using solid and good-looking materials, which fixes flawed teeth. Another advantage of crowns is that they can be customized to match the neighboring teeth’ color.
  • Durability
Of most dental restorations, crowns are perceived as the most long-lasting. This is because the materials used to make crowns are strong and of good quality.

What is a Dental Bridge?

The dentist near you uses a dental bridge if you have one or more missing teeth. The bridgework is cemented on the surrounding natural teeth or dental implant posts. The extra crown wings are anchors to the false middle tooth that rests on the missing tooth gap. The artificial tooth is called a pontic, while the supporting crowns are abutments.

Types of Dental Bridges

There are three main types of dental bridges, namely:
  • Traditional Bridge
It’s the conventional type of bridge where the pontic is held between two abutment teeth that; attached to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. They are also called fixed bridges and are used when one or more teeth are missing.
  • Cantilever Bridges
Cantilever bridges are used when the supporting tooth is only on one side of the missing tooth gap. During the procedure, the false toot I anchored on one side of the missing gap, where there is a healthy natural tooth.
  • Maryland Bridges
This bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework and bonds the frame to the back of the adjacent supporting teeth, different from cantilever and traditional bridges.
  • Composite bridges
They are used when there are no large fillings on the abutment teeth. It’s mainly used for front missing teeth and involves anchoring the false teeth on only one side of one or more adjacent teeth.

Benefits of Bridges

  • Durability
Like dental crowns, bridge materials are pretty durable.
  • Aesthetics
This among the top benefits of bridges is you can recover the tooth functionality and appearance.
  • Biteforce distribution
Dental crowns and bridges near you help to distribute the bite pressure while eating.
  • Functional restoration
Tooth gaps affect your chewing as well as speech. Using a dental bridge restores these functions so you can speak and eat normally.

Care

Care for your crowns and bridges is easy. You have to ensure that you don’t bite on hard substances and foods to void cracking your dental devices. Also, maintain healthy oral hygiene through brushing and flossing every day. Ensure you regularly go for dental checkups to the dentist near you to check for any problems with your crown or bridge.