If you develop a deep cavity or lose a tooth to extraction, crowns and bridges can restore your smile and reduce the risk of complications. At Dental Excellence of Allentown, general, cosmetic, and implant specialist Tejas Patel, DDS, and the team use dental restorations, like crowns and bridges, to repair damage and encourage optimal oral health. To make an appointment, call the office in Allentown, Pennsylvania, or book online today.
Crowns and bridges are dental restorations. They can repair damaged, decaying, or missing permanent teeth, depending on your needs.
Crowns and bridges are frequently mentioned together, but there are differences:
A crown is a synthetic covering bonded to a damaged or severely decaying tooth. Once placed, the crown restores your tooth to its near-original size and appearance, making it easier to bite and chew.
If you lose a permanent tooth due to trauma, poor oral hygiene, or extraction, your dentist might recommend a bridge.
A bridge is a fixed appliance that has an artificial tooth and two crowns. The false tooth fills the gap in your smile, while the two crowns prevent the bridge from moving out of position.
At Dental Excellence of Allentown, the team uses crowns and bridges to correct a wide range of oral issues, including:
The team also uses dental crowns during root canal therapy. A root canal removes the soft center of your tooth (called the pulp) to prevent the need for an extraction.
At Dental Excellence of Allentown, getting a crown or a bridge takes two visits.
Your Dental Excellence of Allentown provider reviews your dental records, takes oral X-rays, and conducts an exam. If you have a damaged, decaying, or missing permanent tooth, you qualify for treatment.
To treat your tooth, your dentist first numbs your mouth with a local anesthetic.
If you’re getting a crown, they remove the decaying portion of your tooth and take impressions. Then, your provider sends your impressions to a nearby lab that designs and makes your custom dental crown.
If you’re getting a bridge, your dentist prepares your teeth on the sides of the gap in your smile. Then, they take impressions and send them to a nearby lab that designs and makes your dental bridge.
When the dental lab finishes your crown or bridge, you return to Dental Excellence of Allentown. Your provider numbs your mouth, as needed, with an anesthetic and bonds your crown or bridge into place. Then, they polish your teeth and give you after-care instructions.
If you want to learn more about crowns and bridges, make an appointment at Dental Excellence of Allentown by calling the office or booking online today.