Crowns are the most popular restorative options used to treat teeth that are broken, misshapen, severely worn out, or infected and bridges are among the most popular restorative solutions for missing teeth. Crowns and bridges are made from dental-grade ceramic, which is highly customizable, durable, and mimics natural teeth.
Crowns are cap-like structures that are placed over the teeth to restore them to their ideal shape, size, and strength. They can be used to treat a number of oral conditions such as chipped teeth, cracked teeth, discolored teeth, broken teeth, or misshapen teeth.
Dental crowns can be placed in two visits to the dental practice. The dentist will clean the tooth and etch it after which the digital impression of the tooth is obtained. This is done using a hand-held scanning device called an intraoral scanner.
The impression is sent to a dental laboratory where the crown will be fabricated using high-precision equipment. Meanwhile, the dentist may place a temporary crown on the tooth to protect it from further damage. Once the permanent crown is ready for placement, the dentist removes the temporary one, thoroughly cleans the tooth, and applies an etch solution to it. This helps the permanent crown stick firmly to the tooth.
After this, the dentist places the permanent crown on the tooth and checks for fit and stability. A bite test is conducted after this to make sure everything is in order.
Bridges are restorations that are used for replacing missing teeth with prosthetic ones. They consist of multiple parts - one is an artificial tooth (known as a pontic) that replaces an extracted or missing tooth and the other ones are the crowns placed on either side of the gap that serve as the bridge’s anchor. Bridges help restore both the function and aesthetics of a missing tooth and prevent the natural teeth from drifting out of position due to lack of support.
The dentist initiates the procedure for a bridge after a complete dental exam. The exam helps determine if the patient is a candidate for this restoration. If they are, the dentist etches a small part of the adjacent teeth that help hold the bridge in place, takes impressions of the teeth, and sends them to the dental lab for fabrication.
In the subsequent appointment, the dentist secures the bridge in place with the help of dental adhesives. Any adjustments that are required are made before the bridge is permanently fixed inside the mouth.
If you have any questions about our dental services, call our experienced dentist in Katy, TX, at (281) 271-5100 to schedule an appointment at our dental office located at 6940 Katy-Gaston Rd Suite 200, Katy, TX 77494.
MON 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
TUE Closed
WED 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
THU Closed
FRI 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
SAT - SUN Closed
