A dental crown is a cap or covering which is used to treat a missing or damaged tooth. Placing a dental crown in the mouth requires a minimum of two appointments at our practice. During the first visit, we will clean out decay, prepare the tooth by shaving off some of the enamel and fit it with a temporary restoration to wear until the permanent one is prepared in a dental lab based on the impressions of your teeth. During the next visit, the temporary restoration is removed, and the permanent one is fixed in the mouth using dental cement.
Dental crowns can address both aesthetic and functional issues. They can be used to cover misshapen teeth or provide support to severely damaged teeth. They are also used to protect a tooth after a root canal treatment. Best of all, they look just like a natural tooth.
A dental bridge covers or “bridges” the gap where teeth are missing between healthy, natural teeth. If multiple consecutive teeth are extracted or lost, we may suggest replacing them using a dental bridge in order to keep the other teeth from moving out of place. This kind of imbalance can cause gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Bridges are used to prevent such problems by acting as a replacement for your missing teeth. Bridges are fixed to the natural teeth or implants on either side of the gap. These teeth, also known as abutments, act as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, also known as a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments.
For more information about tooth restoration using crowns and bridges, please call our office at 630-545-1116. We are located at 1155 N. Main St, Suite A Glendale Heights, IL 60139.