Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that fits snuggly over a tooth, completely covering it. Usually a crown is required to restore the size, shape, strength, or appearance of a tooth. Crowns fix these issues by completely encasing the visible portion of the tooth that lies above the gumline.

A crown may be needed in the following situations:

  • for a weak/cracked tooth (ie: from decay)
  • for a tooth that is already broken or that has been severely worn down
  • to cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there is not much tooth left
  • to hold a dental bridge in place
  • to cover up misshapen or discolored teeth
  • to cover a dental implant or a tooth that has had a root canal

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Dental Tools

Bridges

A bridge, or a fixed partial denture, is designed to literally bridge the gap between one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two crowns fused on one side to one or more false teeth. The crowns are then attached to the teeth on either side of the gap in the patient’s teeth. Unlike removable partial dentures, bridges cannot be removed.

Bridges are designed to restore the aesthetics of your smile and the functionality of it, allowing you to eat and speak properly. Bridges help maintain the shape of your face so that cheeks do not sink where teeth are missing. Bridges can help distribute bite forces by replacing missing teeth. And they can prevent teeth from drifting out of position.