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A dental crown is a permanent, restorative prosthetic device that fits over a weak tooth or a dental implant. At South Coast Dental, Dr. Bashawaty and the team take impressions of your mouth and use the original appearance of your tooth as a template to create your crown. They talk you through your options for materials, which include porcelain, ceramic, metal, and porcelain/metal fusion. If you choose porcelain or ceramic for your crown, they can match the shade to your natural teeth.
- Protecting a weak tooth
- Holding a broken tooth together
- Covering a dental implant to replace a missing tooth
- Concealing an unattractive tooth
- Reinforcing a tooth after a root cana
If you need a crown for a tooth that is still in place, Dr. Bashawaty prepares the tooth by reducing its size. This makes room for the crown so that your new tooth doesn’t look bulky or unnatural.
Bridges are dental prosthetics that replace one missing tooth or two or more teeth next to each other. They consist of one or two dental crowns for the teeth alongside the gap as well as false teeth to fill the gap. Some bridges include metal attachments for the surrounding teeth instead of crowns.
Just like regular crowns, you have options for the material of your bridge. Dr. Bashawaty helps you review the choices and select a material based on the position of your missing teeth and any specific needs that you have.
Practicing good hygiene and staying on top of your dentistry appointments is the best way to ensure your crown or bridge will last for the rest of your life. Dental decay and disease can cause your crowns or bridges to come loose, so it’s important to practice standard preventive measures like brushing, flossing, and getting professional cleanings.
Crowns and bridges are very durable, but they can come loose or break if you bite down on a solid object like a cherry pit or a popcorn seed. If your crown or bridge happens to come loose or break, please call South Coast Dental right away for the next steps in your care. If your device comes out entirely, keep it in a safe place until you can get to the office.
If you need a crown or a bridge to restore the structure of your smile, call South Coast Dental or book an appointment online today.