If you damage or lose a permanent tooth, dental restorations like crowns and bridges can reduce the risk of other issues and restore your biting and chewing abilities. At his self-titled practice, experienced general and cosmetic dentist Jeffrey Busch, DDS, uses crowns and bridges to repair damaged, decaying, and missing teeth. To see if you can benefit, make an appointment in Houston, Texas, by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.
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:
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.
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.
At Jeffrey Busch, DDS, getting a crown or a bridge takes two visits.
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.
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.
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:
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.