What Are Crowns And Bridges?

What Are Crowns And Bridges?

Failing teeth, missing teeth--these are not trivial problems. In fact, oral health suffers from smile gaps and teeth damaged by accident, restorative dentistryabscess, or deep decay. Your Chehalis, WA, dentist, Dr. Michael White, offers hope through porcelain crowns and lifelike tooth replacements called bridges. They may help you renew your smile beautifully.

Details on crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap, typically custom-made from realistic dental-grade porcelain. Restoring a tooth with a crown allows a person to keep much of his or her natural tooth structure, including the extensive root structure below the gum line.

You see, keeping a natural tooth is preferable to extracting it. After extraction, gum and bone begin to recede, speech is impacted and an unsightly smile gap results. If your Chehalis dentist examines your failing tooth and X-rays it to confirm a crown would restore it, go ahead with the procedure. You'll have a crown that lasts at least ten years or longer, say researchers at the Cleveland Clinic.

Receiving a crown takes two visits to Dr. White's office. The first includes the examination, oral impressions, and removal of the damaged parts of the tooth. You'll wear a temporary cap in the meantime. The second visit includes removal of the interim crown and fitting and bonding on the new one.

Most modern crowns are porcelain because of its aesthetic value, durability, and versatility. Crowns are versatile because your Chehalis dentist can use them to restore dental implants (an amazingly lifelike tooth replacement) or to anchor fixed bridges to natural teeth.

Details on bridges

Fixed bridges replace one or more adjacent missing teeth. Pontics, or artificial teeth, are fashioned from color-matched porcelain according to oral impressions and your dentist's specific instructions as to tooth shape and bite. Most bridges attach to neighboring teeth with dental crowns, but some bridgework is stabilized by dental implants, affording years of natural appearance, function, and jaw bone density.

Unlike partial dentures, dental bridges may not be removed by the patient. So they need careful daily brushing and flossing to keep them plaque-free. The same applies to dental crowns. Both restorative treatments work best and last the longest when patients see Dr. White every six months for hygienic cleanings and check-ups.

Improve your smile

Dr. Michael White and his dedicated team renew scores of smiles every year using state-of-the-art restorations such as porcelain crowns and bridgework. For your own consultation with this highly skilled dentist, contact Dr. White's office staff in Chehalis, WA, at (360) 748-0168.

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