What are crowns and bridges?
Crowns and bridges are custom dental restorations that repair or replace damaged, decaying, or missing teeth. Crowns and bridges are similar, but there are differences:
Crowns
A crown is a cap bonded over a damaged or severely decaying tooth. Crowns restore your tooth to its near-original size and prevent your enamel from becoming even weaker.
Bridges
A bridge is a restoration that replaces a missing permanent tooth. Dental bridges feature an artificial tooth and two crowns or a metal framework. Your dentist bonds the crowns or the metal framework to your healthy teeth, preventing the bridge from moving out of position.
What is the process for getting crowns and bridges?
At Jeffrey Busch, DDS, getting a crown or a bridge takes two visits.
First crowns and bridges visit
Before recommending a dental restoration, your provider conducts an oral exam and takes oral X-rays. If you have a damaged, decaying, or a missing permanent tooth, they move forward with treatment.
If you’re getting a crown, your provider carefully removes the decaying portion of your tooth, takes impressions of it, and sends your impressions to a dental lab. Then, they place a temporary crown on top to reduce inflammation and sensitivity.
If you’re getting a bridge, your provider prepares the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. They carefully remove a thin layer of enamel from the tops and sides and take impressions of your teeth. Then, they send your impressions to a dental lab that manufactures a custom bridge.
Second crowns and bridges visit
When your crown or bridge is finished, you return to Jeffrey Busch, DDS.
If you’re getting a crown, your provider numbs your mouth, removes the temporary cap and replaces it with the custom crown.
If you’re getting a bridge, your provider numbs your mouth, lines up the bridge with the gap in your smile, and bonds the two crowns or metal framework in place.
Do crowns and bridges last a lifetime?
Crowns and bridges won’t last a lifetime, but if you practice good oral hygiene, they can last 12-15 years* and sometimes longer. Jeffrey Busch, DDS, recommends:
- Brushing your teeth twice daily
- Flossing regularly
- Visiting the dentist every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning
- Avoiding bad habits like nail-biting and opening packaging with your teeth
If you play contact sports or grind your teeth, you might also want to wear a mouthguard or a night guard to prevent damage to your bridge or crown.
To learn more about crowns and bridges, make an appointment at the practice of Jeffrey Busch, DDS, by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.
