Porcelain Crowns and Bridges

Porcelain crowns for natural teeth and implants

A crown (or cap) is fabricated to cover and reinforce the entire tooth in order to restore its original shape and size or to improve its appearance.

In situations where there is a single missing tooth an implant can be placed and a crown fabricated for the implant. The advantage to this treatment, as opposed to a non-removable bridge, is that your natural healthy teeth adjacent to the missing tooth, are left untouched.

Although crowns can be made from several different materials, tooth colored ceramic is the most popular choice because it is extremely natural looking and luminous. Natural tooth colors can be developed in ceramic crowns to make them virtually invisible;  identical in shape and color to the adjacent teeth. Porcelain crowns are highly durable and will last for many years, but as with most dental restorations they may eventually require repair or replacement.

Reasons for crowns

• To fix broken, fractured or decayed teeth
• Reinforcement of root canalled teeth to prevent fracture
• For reconstruction of the proper bite to enhance comfort and chewing effectiveness
• For cosmetic enhancement
• To prevent severe fracture of weakened teeth

Porcelain Bridges for natural teeth and implants

Non-removable porcelain bridges can be fabricated to:

• Replace missing teeth using natural teeth for support.
• Replace missing teeth using dental implants for support. This is an effective means of eliminating conventional, and frequently uncomfortable, removable bridgework or partial dentures.

This may resolve an obvious cosmetic issue, but the primary reasons  for replacing missing teeth are:

• Prevent adjacent teeth from shifting increasing the potential for other dental problems such as periodontal disease, headaches and TMJ discomfort
• Provide adequate chewing area

Comprehensive family dentistry has an array of different tooth colored ceramic materials used to fabricate bridgework. We will choose the most appropriate material for your specific treatment.

Fabrication of crowns and bridges

Fabricating crowns or bridges will take two or more appointments, depending on the extent and complexity of treatment. The process for either a bridge or a crown is quite similar.

A single crown can usually be completed in two appointments. During the first appointment your dentist will prepare the tooth for the crown and then take several highly accurate impressions (molds) that will be used to create your porcelain crown. A mold will also be used to create a temporary crown that will protect your tooth while your new crown is fabricated by a dental laboratory. During your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the underlying tooth will be thoroughly cleaned and your new crown will be carefully secured in place for a precise and comfortable fit.

Preparation of support teeth for bridgework is essentially the same, and a temporary non-removable bridge is place to protect the support teeth and provide adequate chewing capability. Impressions are taken of your mouth and the prepared teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication. On occasion the bridgework can be completed on your second visit and will be secured in place in the same fashion as the single crown. In certain cases we may use the second visit to try the under-structure of the bridge before it is finalized in order to confirm a number of important clinical issues. In these cases a third visit will be necessary to finalize and secure the bridge in place.

At South Shore Dental Group we use the latest technology available to modern comprehensive family dentistry, including the advanced CAD/CAM technology, and finest materials to create porcelain crowns and bridges that offers superior fit, function and esthetics. We will provide instructions for the care of your new dental restoration. As with natural teeth, proper oral hygiene, good eating habits and regular dental visits will help maintain the life of your new crowns. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about porcelain crowns or to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about porcelain crowns or to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.