Crown and Bridgework
If you're self-conscious about cracked, broken, decayed, or worn teeth, we can bring back your healthy, natural-looking smile with dental crowns, also called caps. A crown can return structure, strength, and function to a tooth with extensive decay or damage. Designed to fit snugly and function as a healthy tooth, a crown will protect your tooth from further damage and preserve the jaw's correct natural alignment.
We use precious metal, porcelain pressed (or fused) to metal, or all-porcelain crowns. To maintain a fully white smile, we recommend all-ceramic crowns. Our precise color-matching system allows us to find the right shade of porcelain to blend with your natural tooth color. Porcelain crowns are also extremely durable and long lasting, and these benefits make them popular with dentists as well as patients.
Typically, we can design, fit, and place your crowns in just a couple of short appointments. Once a crown is placed, you can care for it as you do your natural teeth. Conscientious brushing twice a day and daily flossing will protect the base of your crown from bacterial growth. Be sure to see us at least two times each year for professional cleanings and a preventive exam, too.
What is crown and bridgework?
Also called a fixed bridge, a crown or a bridge has two parts: the crown(s) and the replacement (pontic) tooth. A crown rests on top of an existing tooth that has been modified to ensure a tight fit. A bridge is an artificial tooth attached to a crown or crowns on either side so that it literally bridges the gap between two healthy teeth. Unlike a partial denture, fixed bridges are not removable.
How do I care for my dental bridge?
Many people incorrectly believe that crowns and bridges do not require maintenance like regular teeth. Crowns protect the portion of the tooth above the gum line, so decay at the gum line can still occur. It’s extremely important to floss around the crowns, and we recommend a bridge threader to remove plaque from underneath the replacement tooth. Regular brushing and flossing will lengthen the life of your restoration and help prevent further complications.
Whether you’ve lost teeth due to accident, injury, decay, or disease, crown and bridgework can restore your smile and your self-confidence. To learn more about crown and bridgework, call today and schedule an appointment with one of our dentists. Each of our eight locations provides affordable dental care with exceptional results for families throughout the greater Charlotte area.