Unless you have personal experience with dental crowns & bridges, you may not know much about them. Both crowns & bridges are long-lasting solutions to major dental challenges. They are prosthetic devices that are fixed permanently in your mouth to restore both the function and appearance of your teeth. Crowns & bridges are cemented to existing teeth, or they can be used in conjunction with dental implants if there are no existing teeth to use as an anchor.
Here are some things to know about dental crowns:
- Crowns are generally used to cap or cover an existing tooth that is damaged in some way.
- The tooth must be prepared to receive the crown, and in some cases, a temporary crown can be used until a permanent crown is ready to be placed.
- Crowns are also used to cover a tooth after a root canal has been performed or on top of a dental implant to restore the mouth and protect the jaw.
Here are some things to know about dental bridges:
- Bridges are used to fill in the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
- Bridges can generally be used to fill in the space of 1 to 3 teeth.
- Unlike dentures or partials, bridges remain in the mouth and can be a lifelong solution to missing teeth with proper care.
Crowns & bridges can significantly improve both the appearance and function of your teeth. Filling in gaps between teeth can help keep the teeth in place and maintain proper alignment. This protects proper dental occlusion (bite) and reduces the risk of jaw problems like TMJ.