Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a ‘cap’ used to cover a tooth and helps it to restore its structure and function. Crowns can last a lifetime if a patient follows a good oral hygiene. There are two main reasons you might need a crown on your teeth:

Cosmetic reasons

• To cover a severely crooked tooth with a porcelain crown.
• To mask stained teeth. Crowns are made to match the natural color of your teeth.

Functional reasons

• To protect a damaged (cracked) or weakened tooth.
• To strengthen the structure of a tooth that is weakened over time due to a large filling or has been filled multiple times.
• A crown on top of a dental implant in place of a missing tooth.
• To restore strength after root canal treatment dental crowns are placed over teeth that have become weak and brittle.

What are temporary and permanent crowns?

Dental crowns can be both permanent and temporary depending on their application. Permanent crowns are meant to stay on the tooth for many years and are made in lab or specialized facilities. Permanent crowns can be made from a number of expensive materials such as ceramics, porcelain-fused to metal, gold alloys and base metal alloys are other materials that are commonly used in manufacturing dental crowns. Temporary crowns are not required to last/stay in place and re-made from steel, aluminum, or composites.

To Remember

Once your dental crown procedure is complete, the crown functions and feels like a regular tooth. But remember regular check-ups and cleaning are necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are recommended if you are missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth create problems for nearby teeth resulting in bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can lead to gum infections and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Dental bridges bridge the gap created by missing teeth. A bridge is made of two more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap, these two or more anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth and a false teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontic and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials. Natural teeth or implants support the bridges.

• Benefits of Dental Bridges
• Restore your natural smile
• Help you to chew and speak properly
• Maintain your shape face
• Preventing the reaming teeth by helping them stay in their position.

To remember

A bridge can lose its support if the teeth or bone holding it are damaged by any kind of dental disease. For a lasting effect it’s mandatory to maintain teeth healthy by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. Also, regularly checking up with the dentist and hygienist for professional cleaning.