What’s the Difference Between Crowns and Bridges?
Crowns, often called caps, are custom-made to fit over your entire tooth after it has been prepared. They restore a tooth's shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, ceramic, or metal, and are designed to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Alternatively, bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth. They consist of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap and a false tooth/teeth in between. Like crowns, bridges are custom-designed to match the natural color and shape of your existing teeth, providing a functional and aesthetic solution to tooth loss.
What Dental Health Issues Can They Fix?
Crowns and bridges address a range of dental issues:
- Restoring Damaged Teeth: Crowns cover and protect teeth that are cracked, worn, or have large fillings.
- Replacing Missing Teeth: Bridges offer a durable solution for filling the space left by one or more missing teeth, restoring functionality, and preventing remaining teeth from shifting.
- Enhancing Tooth Appearance: Both crowns and bridges can improve the color, shape, and alignment of your teeth, enhancing your overall smile.
The Procedure: What to Expect
The process for crowns and bridges typically requires two visits to our office.
First Visit: Preparation
- Tooth Reshaping: For crowns, the tooth is reshaped to ensure the crown fits perfectly. For bridges, adjacent teeth are prepared to anchor the bridge securely.
- Impressions: We take impressions of the prepared tooth or teeth to create a custom-fit crown or bridge.
- Temporary Solution: A temporary crown or bridge is placed to protect your teeth while the permanent restoration is crafted.
Second Visit: Placement
- Removing Temporary Restoration: The temporary crown or bridge is removed.
- Fitting the Permanent Restoration: Your new crown or bridge is carefully fitted, adjusted for a perfect fit, and checked for a comfortable bite.
- Cementing: Once the fit and comfort are assured, the crown or bridge is cemented into place, enhancing both the function and appearance of your teeth.
