Crowns & Bridges
Your teeth are the strongest substance in your body. While exceptionally strong, however, the teeth can still be damaged. When the damage is significant, it can have a serious impact on your oral, and your overall health. If the damage is severe, it can even lead to the tooth falling out or requiring an extraction. At Sussex Dental, we offer crowns and bridges to restore the health of your mouth.
Crowns for Restoring Damaged TeethWhen your teeth are damaged, more than just the appearance of your smile is affected. When the decay is significant, it can have a serious impact on your oral and overall health. Where minor damage usually only impacts the aesthetics of your teeth, more significant damage can affect the layers below the enamel. A passageway for bacteria to enter into the inner layers of the teeth is created. Additionally, the structural integrity of the tooth is compromised, which can increase the risk of further damage. A crown is a dental restoration that is designed to restore the strength and integrity of a damaged tooth, preventing the need for a tooth extraction. It holds the tooth together, prevents bacterial invasion, and protects the tooth from further harm. Crowns can be made from any one of several different materials, including metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramic. Each material has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. While metal is the strongest material, ceramic is the most popular. This is because ceramic perfectly mimics the color and light reflection properties of natural enamel. Crowns made from ceramic blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth, restoring not only the health of the tooth and your mouth, but restoring the appearance of your smile as well. Read more about Crowns.
Bridges for Replacing Missing TeethA bridge is a dental restoration that is commonly used to replace a single missing tooth. It can, however, be used to replace up to three consecutive missing teeth. There are a few different types of bridges, including cantilever, Maryland or resin bonded and fixed. Fixed bridges are the most common type. This particular bridge is usually made from a single piece of ceramic or porcelain. The replacement tooth, called the pontic tooth, is set between two crowns. The crowns anchor the bridge into place on the teeth adjacent to the empty space. After the bridge is created, it is bonded to the adjacent teeth, and the restoration is held securely in place in your mouth. Read more about Bridges.
Getting a Crown or BridgeThe process of getting a crown and a bridge are fairly similar. They both involve removing a portion of the enamel from the necessary teeth. For a crown, the damaged tooth is prepared. If you are getting a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the empty space are prepared. Removing the enamel from these teeth is crucial for ensuring that your new restoration fits in naturally and comfortably with the rest of your teeth, providing you with a beautiful restoration. Properly placed crowns and bridges restore your oral health as well as your quality of life. Whether your teeth are damaged, or you lose them altogether, immediate treatment is essential. For more information on crowns and bridges, call Sussex Dental today at (262) 246-6806. |
