Dental Crowns, Bridges, and Veneers
settingsA dental crown is a cap that covers a tooth above the gum line, protecting and strengthening teeth that are too damaged or decayed for a filling. Crowns are also used to anchor a bridge to surrounding teeth or to attach to a dental implant. A crown can also be used for cosmetic purposes if a patient wishes to cover a misshapen or discolored tooth.
Although preparing a tooth for a crown requires shaving down an existing tooth, a crown protects weak teeth and extends the life of your tooth.
Types of Dental Crowns
Our office uses four types of crowns:
Metal Crowns
Metal crowns are the most durable, and we use them on the back teeth because they get the most wear and tear. These crowns are not the most aesthetic choice, so they aren’t a good option for front teeth.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
A crown that is porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) has a metal interior for strength and a porcelain exterior for a more natural appearance. These are strong but can be abrasive to opposing natural teeth and may show a dark metal line at the gumline if the gums recede.
All-Porcelain Crowns
An all-porcelain crown is the most aesthetic as it closely resembles your natural teeth. It is a good choice for front teeth that don’t get as much wear and tear.
All-Zirconia Crowns
All-zirconia crowns represent the strongest ceramic crowns. These crowns are a good alternative to PFM or metal crowns when strength is necessary.
Bridges
A bridge literally bridges the gap created by missing teeth. A bridge can replace one or more teeth, restoring your smile and enabling you to chew and talk properly. It also maintains the shape of your mouth and prevents your remaining teeth from shifting out of place. A bridge is fabricated by preparing teeth for crowns on either side of the space. These teeth become supports for the crowns between them. The bridge is cemented into place and cannot be removed.
Veneers
Veneers are typically cosmetic choices for your teeth. If you are unhappy with the size, shape, color, alignment, or spacing of one or more of your teeth, a veneer may be a good option for you. Dr. Strandburg will shave down a thin layer of your tooth and replace it with strong, natural-looking porcelain. Because veneers are primarily cosmetic, they are typically used only on the front teeth.
Veneers have some limitations. If you have significantly misaligned teeth or a large gap, orthodontics may be appropriate. If you have a significant loss of tooth structure due to decay or trauma, then porcelain crowns that cover the entire tooth may be a better restoration.
Crown, Bridge & Veneer Procedure
Numbing
We use local anesthetics to numb the area.
Preparation
We prepare the tooth for crown, bridge, or veneer placement. All three preparation processes vary from one another.
Material Build-Up
It may be necessary to place build-up material during bridge and crown procedures to support the bridge or crown.
Digital Impressions
Instead of the traditional method of impression material in a tray, we use the more modern and accurate technique of digital impressions. We use a handheld wand-like scanner that takes thousands of photos per second with optical/light technology to create a real-time 3D digital model of the prepared tooth/teeth directly to a computer screen. The scan is completed in minutes and instantly sent electronically to the lab – no trays or putty involved!
Temporary Crown Placement
If we find something wrong during your exam and cleaning, we will present recommendations to correct the issue and restore optimum oral health.
Cementation
We will cement the new crown, bridge or veneer(s) with permanent cement when we have reached this stage in the process.
