Janz Family Dental: Crowns & Bridges

Crowns

A dental crown is a cap placed over a tooth to fully encase the visible portion. It may be needed if you have had a root canal or large filling or if you have a broken tooth.

The Benefits of a Crown

A dental crown can be used to restore a tooth's:

• Function – Due to their natural tooth-like features, crowns restore full function of your missing or damaged tooth. Crowns restore your ability to chew.
• Durability – A crown can keep a cracked tooth together and prevent or delay having to have a tooth extracted by your dentist.
• Appearance – A crown can cover up a stained or unusually shaped tooth, adding to your self-confidence and giving you a nicer smile.

Crowns are also durable: Dental crowns should last between five to fifteen years, depending on how you take care of them.

The Process of Receiving a Crown

Receiving a dental crown is typically a two-appointment process. The first appointment consists of preparing the tooth to receive the crown by shaving down the outside of the tooth. Your dentist will also take impressions for the permanent crown, fabricate a temporary crown and send the impressions off to the lab to make the permanent crown.

During the second appointment, the temporary crown is removed, and the permanent crown is installed on the tooth with dental cement.

Bridges

A dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth (or several teeth) by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. This provides both the appearance and function of natural teeth.

The Process of Receiving a Bridge

The process of receiving a dental bridge requires two appointments with your dentist and multiple steps.

1. During the first appointment, your dentist will file down the two healthy teeth on each side of the missing tooth (or teeth) to prepare them for the bridge.
2. Your dentist will then make a model of your teeth by taking impressions to create a model. This model is used to custom-make the artificial tooth (or teeth) attached to two crowns that will be installed on the surrounding healthy teeth to provide stability. This fixture is the dental bridge.
3. Meanwhile your dentist places a temporary bridge in your mouth to protect the exposed teeth and gums.
4. During your second visit, your dentist removes the temporary bridge and install the custom-made bridge in your mouth by cementing the crowns to your two healthy teeth.

To find out more about dental crowns and bridges in Edmonton, give us a call today.