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.
| Bridges | Implants |
|---|---|
| Two or more teeth have to be prepped for a bridge | No teeth have to be modified for the implant |
| If the abutment teeth holding the bridge fail or develop decay, a new bridge may be required | If 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. |
