Crowns and Bridges

CROWNS AND BRIDGES

Crowns can be used to restore fractured or badly decayed teeth. The defective area is often built up with an insulating core material. The tooth is shaped, impressions are made, and a temporary placed. The impressions are sent to the dental laboratory for fabrication.

The quality of the dental laboratory is very important. The dentist and dental technician must be in direct communication to ensure success. We only use custom dental laboratories located in the United States which certify the composition of the materials used to insure patient safety.

At the second appointment, the temporary is removed the crown adjusted, and the fit and color properly evaluated. The crown is cemented and final adjustments made. Crowns are strong and with proper care should give a good lifetime

Bridges can be used to replace missing teeth. The teeth on either side of the missing teeth are shaped similar to the way they are prepared for a crown. The seated bridge looks like a series of crowns. They are connected together for strength, yet give the appearance of individual teeth.

Porcelain fused to Metal Crowns and Bridges

Porcelain fused to metal crowns have a long track record of offering a good blend of appearance and strength. The underlying structure is made of metal which seals the crown with the tooth and gives a rigid core for the porcelain outer surface. The combination of porcelain bonded to metal crowns and bridges may be used to restore missing and broken down teeth.

All-Ceramic Crowns

Crowns made entirely of ceramic materials exhibit excellent translucency and lifelike characteristics. Since there is no metal core under the porcelain, light can be transmitted through the tooth and no grayness is displayed at the gum line. They are preferred by many for use on front teeth. There are several types of all-ceramic crowns available.

Feldspathic porcelain crowns can offer the most natural and translucent appearance. They are recommended primarily in the front part of the mouth. The crowns are bonded to the natural tooth surface and transmit the underlying color of the tooth through the porcelain.

Porcelain fused to pressed ceramic crowns have been used for over 20 years. The cores are made of ceramic which is pressed into a mold and then porcelain is added. They offer good strength when bonded to the tooth.

The use of porcelain fused to zirconia core crowns allows all-ceramic crowns to be used in most areas of the mouth including back teeth. Zirconia cores are computer designed and milled. Outer porcelain is then applied to the hardened core. With high strength and the ability to conventionally cement these crowns, they are quickly becoming the crown of choice by many patients.

Implant Restorations

The longest lasting, most conservative way to replace missing teeth is through the use of implant restorations. The implant is placed by the specialist and allowed to "integrate" with the bone for a period of 3-6 months. Following integration impressions are made and sent to the dental laboratory. At the next appointment a post is threaded onto the implant and a crown placed over the post.