Very few people have perfect teeth. Aesthetically, they may be misshapen, discolored, crooked or crowded (or some combination). And physically they might have cavities, fractures or are weakened to the point of not functioning well. For a variety of reasons, people are sometimes missing teeth as well. The good news is that we live in an age where we can change the look of our mouth and our teeth, and we have many dentistry options to so. Crowns and bridges are two of them.
What does a crown do?
A crown is a full or partial tooth covering used for a number of purposes. The crown is custom made to fit your tooth and is bonded on with dental cement. It strengthens a tooth, as the material is durable, and can often be made to look like your other teeth.
While crowns are well known for covering weakened teeth, fractured teeth or those with large cavities, there are other uses for them as well. They can cover a misshapen tooth, making it look more uniform and matching the size of the surrounding teeth. Crowns are also used to cover dental implants, making the tooth look good aesthetically.
What does a bridge do?
The bridge is similar to dentures in that it’s a false tooth that’s not a dental implant. An implant is permanent, as is a dental bridge. A bridge is attached in the spot needing a tooth or teeth, eliminating any gap, and preventing the nearby teeth from drifting into that space.
Placing a bridge is not usually an emergency dentist visit. It does require more than one visit, though, to prepare the surrounding teeth for the permanent bridge. Sometimes as part of the preparation process, the abutting teeth are filed down to put on crowns, which is how the bridge is attached. The bridge can be made as one unit with several teeth; the crowns on permanent or implanted teeth anchor the bridge
What do crowns and bridges have in common?
- Both can make the teeth look aesthetically pleasing.
- Both can make the teeth better aligned, with a more uniform appearance.
- Both can fill a gap, eliminating spaces between teeth.
- Both can stop teeth from shifting.
Sometimes bridges and crowns are placed as one unit, over permanent teeth or dental implants. Crowns are also used in restorations. To learn more about the benefits of crowns and bridges, contact your dentist in St. Petersburg FL. Some dentists provide sedation dentistry, which is helpful for patients who are fearful or nervous about dental visits.