Protect & Restore Your Smile!
Your teeth become a little weaker and more brittle as you age. This makes them more susceptible to breaking, as well as to damage and potential tooth loss caused from tooth decay or gum disease. If you have a damaged tooth, we can help you protect it from further damage, as well as help you restore your natural smile. Two restorative dental treatments we offer are bridges and dental crowns. Call or use the online tool to schedule a consultation to discuss crowns or bridges with Dr. Gilbert today..
Dental crowns and bridges are two commonly used dental treatments to help fix or replace damaged teeth.
Dental Crowns – A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover or cap that sits on top of a damaged, misshaped, or discolored tooth. Crowns provide support to teeth that have weakened, save teeth that are in danger of falling out, or restore the look of teeth to improve the aesthetics of your smile.
Bridges -A dental bridge is a fixed appliance that replaces a missing tooth. A bridge has two crowns that rest on the teeth surrounding the gap, with a false tooth attached to those crowns that replaces the missing tooth. To make the bridge permanent, Dr. Gilbert cements the appliance to the two teeth on either side of the gap, serving as anchors for the bridge to stay in place.
When creating crowns and bridges, Dr. Gilbert works carefully to ensure the finished result meets your desires for your smile. For most patients, the crown or bridge looks quite realistic, matching existing teeth.
Dr. Gilbert uses porcelain crowns made from an impression of your teeth, so it feels and looks like your own natural teeth. Porcelain is very durable and feels natural. Most crowns and bridges last from 7-15 years. Proper oral care helps lengthen this lifespan.
Yes. In order to attach a crown or bridge, Dr. Gilbert removes some enamel from any tooth surface that the porcelain contacts. This allows room to permanently cement the crown or bridge in place and ensures that it feels natural in your mouth and matches your bite. The benefit of a crown is that your natural tooth root remains in place.
Sometimes crowns or bridges can crack or break, due to a material failure or when you chew on something hard, such as ice or a popcorn kernel. When this happens, Dr. Gilbert simply replaces the damaged crown or bridge with a new one. Visit Dr. Gilbert right away if you suspect you have broken a crown, because leaving the tooth exposed can lead to pain and damage.