Cosmetic Dentistry

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Crowns & Bridges

Fixed Partial Denture (Bridge)

Bridges are natural-looking tooth replacements that help maintain facial structure, reduce stress on the jaw and fill in the gaps caused by missing teeth. Fixed bridges are cemented to the existing teeth and do not come out. Removable bridges, also referred to as partial dentures, replace multiple teeth and can be removed.

Benefits of a bridge

The major benefit of a bridge is to replace a missing tooth or teeth. By replacing the missing tooth or teeth it will prevent the adjacent teeth from moving or drifting into the empty space. A bridge will also keep the opposing teeth from supra-erupting into the empty space as well. Teeth continually move throughout our lifetime and having a bridge to restore the natural function of a bite will prevent rapid tooth movement. When teeth erupt or move into places they are not supposed to be, the TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) may be stressed and become misaligned or arthritic until the bite becomes stabilized. Another major reason to restore an empty space with a bridge is it reduces the chance for decay because it restores the natural the natural contours of the teeth and make natural cleaning with saliva more possible.

What do bridges do?

A bridge can be used to:

Replace a missing tooth or teeth
Restore your smile
Reduce your risk of gum disease
Restore your ability to bite and chew
Improve your speech
Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

What are the different types of bridges?

There are three main types of bridges:

Traditional bridges, also known as fixed bridges, are used to replace one or more missing teeth. The procedure involves creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic (false tooth) in between. Unlike dentures, fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth. These are the most common type of bridge and are made either of porcelain fused to metal or of ceramics.
Resin bonded bridges, also known as Maryland bonded bridges, are primarily used for your front teeth. They are less expensive than fixed bridges and are best when the teeth are healthy and do not have any large fillings. A false tooth is fused with resin to metal bands that are bonded to the adjacent teeth and hidden from view. Resin bonded bridges require minimal preparation of the adjacent teeth.
Cantilever bridges are used in areas of your mouth that are under low amounts of stress, such as your front teeth. Cantilever bridges are recommended when there are teeth on only one side of the open space.

Crowns

Crowns are natural-looking, tooth-shaped restorations that cover a damage or missing tooth, restoring a full and beautiful smile. Crowns are cemented into place to provide both strong and visibly appealing replacements for natural teeth.

Crowns can be used for a variety of different reasons, including to:

Protect weak teeth from further damage
Restore a broken tooth
Cover a tooth with a large filling
Hold a dental bridge in place
Cover a dental implant for a missing tooth
Change the color of a tooth

Many different materials are used to make crowns, each with its own benefits. Dr. Warren can help you decide which material is best for you. Metal crowns provide little damage to opposing teeth but tend to be noticeable because of their shiny, metallic color. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns match the color of your own teeth but are prone to chipping or breaking. All ceramic crowns look very natural, but must be protected with an acrylic guard to prevent fracture. All-resin crowns are provisional restorations that are made as a temporary while a patient is waiting on their permanent crown restoration to return from the lab. Typically a full gold crown is the most expensive restoration due to the high cost of gold, but the most popular type of crown restoration is the all ceramic restoration for its esthetics and durability.

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