Crowns and Bridges Near Me

Dental crowns are a beautiful and aesthetic option for restoring teeth that are missing large amounts of tooth structure. Crowns are typically recommended when a composite filling is no longer adequate enough to support the tooth or to provide added protection for a tooth that has received root canal treatment. Bridges, on the other hand, are linked crowns that are used to replace a missing tooth and restore occlusion. Read on to find out if crowns or bridges are right for you. 

Crowns and bridges are made from a combination of durable materials, such as metal alloy, zirconia, or porcelain, and built to withstand the harsh environment of the mouth. Despite this, a crown or bridge may, on average, need to be replaced every 10 years due to recurrent decay or chipping of the crown. Bear in mind this is not a requirement; if your crown or bridge is still in great shape at the 10 year mark, there is no need to replace it! 

Composite fillings are great for repairing small portions of a tooth. However, when a tooth is missing a larger portion then composite may not provide enough structural support and increase the chance of tooth fracture down the road. A crown offers full coverage protection, as well as a more unified, aesthetic look. 

Whether you need a new crown will depend on a few factors: 

  • Is the underlying tooth structure still in good health and provide enough support for the crown? 
  • Is the crown still in good shape and able to provide protection for the tooth? 
  • If the tooth had root canal treatment, is the root canal free of contamination? 

If the tooth and crown are both in good shape, then the crown can simply be recemented. A visit to our office would be necessary in order to verify whether this can be done. 

Bridges are very functional, however, they do have some cons versus an implant.

BridgesImplants
Two or more teeth have to be prepped for a bridgeNo teeth have to be modified for the implant
If the abutment teeth holding the bridge fail or develop decay, a new bridge may be requiredIf an implant fails, it usually only affects the implant. The implant is taken out and placed again at a later date.
Bridges may have to be replaced every 10 years due to recurrent decay.Implants are immune to decay, and can last a long time with routine checkups and cleanings.