Are you looking to start the new year with a bright and healthy smile? Patients who are interested in strengthening their teeth and improving the beauty of their smile frequently ask their dentist about dental crowns and bridges. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, these prosthetics are permanently cemented onto your existing teeth or implants. While the crown is used to “cap” an existing tooth, a dental bridge covers gaps where one or more teeth are missing.

Explaining Dental Crowns & Bridges

Crowns

Also referred to as a “dental cap,” a crown is used to cover a damaged tooth. This helps strengthen a damaged tooth and is frequently used after a root canal procedure to guard against future damage.

Crowns also help improve the appearance, shape, and alignment of a tooth. They can be used to replace missing teeth as part of a bridge or implant, as well as improve the appearance of a chipped or cracked teeth. Your dentist will likely use porcelain or ceramic to create your crown, using a color that matches the rest of your smile.  

Bridges

As the name implies, a dental bridge helps repair any gaps in the mouth where the patient is missing one or more teeth. This prosthetic device is necessary to help preserve your bite, as missing teeth can cause your teeth to shift and rotate to fill the empty space. This can affect your bite over time, as well as lead to gum disease and joint disorders.

A bridge is made of several components, including an artificial tooth (known as a pontic) and a dental crown. It is cemented to the existing teeth (known as abutments) that surround the empty space, which act as anchors for the bridge. Like a crown, bridges are often made using porcelain and are designed to match the color of your other teeth.

If you’re wondering whether or not your smile will benefit from a crown or bridge, schedule an appointment today with William U. Britton DDS, MAGD, in Chillicothe, OH. Keeping up-to-date on the latest technology and procedures, this dentist is well-equipped for a variety of services. Whether you need oral surgery or a pediatric dentist for your kids, your oral hygiene is in skilled hands at this practice. Learn more about restorative procedures such as crowns and bridges online or by calling them today at (740) 772-2225.