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Dental Crowns & Bridges in Pearland

Dental Crows vs Dental Bridges

Dental Crown

Dental Bridge

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a safeguarding dental cap that is utilized to envelope a damaged tooth's surface, in order to reinstate it to its original dimensions and shape. These caps are personalized to the individual's tooth impression, ensuring a natural fit. Once positioned, a dental crown reinforces the structure of the impaired tooth and shields it from potential harm. Crowns are utilized when dental fillings or alternative restorative procedures are insufficient for repairing a tooth.

Dental Crown Material:

Different materials are utilized for crafting dental crowns, but porcelain is the most preferred due to its ability to seamlessly blend with the natural teeth's color. Porcelain crowns are robust and long-lasting, ensuring an attractive smile for an extended period. They are designed to match the neighboring natural teeth in terms of size, shape, and color.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge serves the purpose of bridging the space between two healthy teeth in cases where one or more teeth are absent.

Typically, to secure the bridge in place, a dental crown is positioned on the healthy teeth that flank the gap, referred to as anchor or abutment teeth. Essentially, the bridge produces a prosthetic tooth, termed a pontic, which can be made from a variety of materials, including gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination thereof.

Types of Dental Bridges:

Traditional fixed bridges: Two crowns on adjacent teeth to hold the bridge in place
Cantilever bridges: One crown on adjacent tooth and no tooth on the other side of the bridge
Maryland bonded bridges: Resin-bonded bridge made of porcelain fused to metal teeth and framework, commonly used for front teeth

Treatment Process:

For a dental bridge, multiple visits are needed. First, the abutment teeth are reshaped and impressions are taken to create crowns that fit properly.
Impressions are sent to a dental lab to make the crowns, which takes several weeks. This is why multiple dental visits are necessary. At the second visit, the crowns are fitted and fixed with dental cement.
After fitting the crowns, a dental bridge can be placed over the gap. Initially, temporary cement is used to test the fit, and permanent cement is added after a few weeks of successful use.

Use and longevity of a Dental Bridge

Adequately placed Dental Bridges while proper and good oral hygiene is maintained along with periodic dental cleanings, it can last for over a decade
Good dental care is crucial for the durability of a dental bridge as it depends on the strength of adjacent healthy teeth. Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and periodic professional dental cleanings can improve dental health.
A dental bridge can help with eating and speaking by filling gaps caused by missing teeth. Patients should be cautious when adjusting to the bridge and may need to eat softer or smaller cut foods initially.