Crowns and Bridges

Crowns

A crown, or “cap” as it is commonly known, looks like the white enamel portion of a tooth, and completely covers an existing natural tooth.

Dr. Alhomsi recommends a crown to cover a tooth that is not strong enough to withstand daily biting and chewing forces on its own. This is commonly due to a broken, chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth, large decay or filling, or an existing root canal treatment. A crown can be placed either after a tooth is broken to repair it, or as a preventative measure on teeth that are at a high risk to breaking. However, Dr. Alhomsi recommends placing crowns before a tooth breaks, as sometimes, a tooth can break to the point where it is not possible to repair it, and it must be extracted.

Crowns are fabricated in a specialized dental lab to make the tooth look almost indistinguishable from your original tooth when the treatment is finished. When properly cared for, a crown can last many years, especially when combined with wearing a custom dental nightguard to protect it.

Best for: Individuals who have broken or chipped teeth, teeth that are sensitive to biting (can indicate a crack or fracture), large decay and/or fillings, teeth with existing root canal treatment.

Bridges

A bridge is essentially three crowns fused together to replace a missing tooth: two crowns that completely cover the existing teeth adjacent to the space, and one “floating” crown in the middle, called a pontic, that sits above the space. They are most successful when used to replace just one missing tooth, but can extend to multiple teeth, if necessary.

A bridge is a permanent restoration, so it is not removable, and since you cannot floss through the top like a natural tooth, various tools exist to clean under the pontic. Our dental hygienist will help you find the best solution to keep the area clean and healthy to extend the life of your bridge.

Though a bridge is more cost-effective than an implant initially, the lifespan of a bridge is shorter, and may need to be replaced more than once in a lifetime, compared to an implant. However, it is an excellent tooth replacement option that gives a near fully restored chewing function.

Best for: Individuals who are missing a tooth and implants may not be a suitable option.

Contact us today with any questions and to schedule an appointment to find out if a crown or bridge is right for you!