Dental Crown (Cap) & Bridge

Chances are you are told you need a crown, a number of crowns or a permanent bridge. Crown and Bridge treatment will restore lost teeth, support remaining teeth and help you maintain optimum dental health. If you are faced with tooth loss, crown & bridge treatment maybe the right restorative option for you. This long-term solution can help prevent the cycle of problems that can occur when just one tooth is missing, such as shifting of the remaining teeth, decay, periodontal disease and bone loss.

What is a crown?

Dental Crown

A crown, sometimes called a “cap”, is a tooth like covering placed over a carefully prepared existing tooth. Crown can serve many functions in addition to being used to strengthen a tooth to accommodate the attachment of a fixed bridge. One of the most common is to support the tooth where there is no longer sufficient to structure left to place a filing. Crowns may also be used to protect the structure of a tooth that is fractured or broken.

What is a bridge?

Dental Bridge

A bridge is a custom device anchored to neighboring teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridge work, the teeth on either side of the missing one must be prepared as crowns to serve as abutments to hold the prosthetic (replacement teeth) in place. Crowns and bridges are most often made from superior materials such as semi-precious or precious metals, porcelain or a combination of metal fused to porcelain. Both appearance and function are considered when selecting the material most suitable for you.

Why is crown & bridge treatment necessary?

Losing a permanent tooth whether it be due to dental decay, periodontal (gum) disease, injury or accident – can cause many serious problems for your neighboring teeth. Because the support and chewing forces are altered, the remaining teeth may begin to shift. The opposing teeth above or below the lost tooth can begin to move up or down and out of the socket, which can accelerate periodontal disease and further breakdown the bone structure. If the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth may eventually be lost due to the improper forces exerted during chewing.

Advantages of crown & bridge treatment?

  • Restores and maintains the bite
  • Keeps opposing teeth in their proper place
  • Prevents shifting of adjacent teeth
  • Discourages further decay and periodontal (gum) disease
  • Enhances your smile, speech and chewing function

How is dental crown & bridge treatment performed?

Once it’s determined that you need a crown or bridge, a series of appointments will be scheduled for you. On the first appointment, we apply anesthesia to the area to be treated. Then we carefully shape and contour the tooth or teeth to be crowned to allow sufficient space for the crown or bridge to fit in. Then we take impression of the tooth or teeth which will be sent to the lab. Lab which will eventually fabricate a crown or bridge based on the impression to replicate your exact tooth. We put temporary crown or bridge to protect the teeth until lab fabricates the crown or bridge and sends it back to our office. It takes average 2-3 weeks for lab to fabricate the crown or bridge.

On your next appointment, we remove the temporary crown/bridge and cement the permanent crown/bridge and make final adjustments as necessary.

Call Us

Afton Family Dental
1815 S. Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215)462-6229

Schedule Online Appointment

Amazing Smiles By Design
3103 Hulmeville Rd. Suite 205
Bensalem, PA 19020
(215)639-5331

Schedule Online Appointment

Elm Dental Associates
543 White Horse Pike
Hammonton, NJ 08037
(609)561-1121

Advanced Dental Care Of Vernon
40 Rt 94 Vernon Colonial Plaza
Vernon Township, NJ 07428
(973)209-4944

Smiles By Cranbrook Dental
2312 Whitehorse Mercerville Rd #200a
Trenton, NJ 08619
(609)587-0049