What Is a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges are used to fill the space left by one or more missing teeth. Bridges literally “bridge” the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge consists of two or more crowns that are placed on the teeth adjacent to the gap. These teeth, known as abutment teeth, serve as anchors for the bridge.

In between the abutment teeth, there is a replacement tooth or teeth, called pontics. Pontics can be made from materials such as gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these. The dental bridge is supported by either natural teeth or dental implants.

What Problems Do Dental Bridges Treat?

A dental bridge may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite.

A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been.

Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.

The success of any bridge depends on its foundation — the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it’s very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges have several benefits:

• They can help bring back your smile by filling in the gaps caused by missing teeth.
• Bridges enable you to chew and speak more effectively, restoring your ability to do these activities properly.
• They help maintain the natural shape of your face by providing support and structure.
• By replacing missing teeth, bridges ensure that the forces generated when you bite down are distributed evenly.
• Additionally, bridges prevent the remaining teeth from shifting or moving out of their proper positions.

What Are the Different Types of Dental Bridges?

There are three main types of dental bridges:

Traditional bridges: Traditional bridges are the most common type and can be made of porcelain fused to metal or ceramics. Traditional bridges involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on each side of the missing tooth, with a replacement tooth in between.

Cantilever bridges: These bridges are not very common anymore and are not recommended for the back of the mouth because they can exert excessive force on other teeth and cause damage. Cantilever bridges are used when there are neighboring teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth.

Maryland bonded bridges: Also known as resin-bonded bridges or Maryland bridges, these bridges consist of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or plastic replacement teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain framework. Typically, metal or porcelain wings are bonded to your existing teeth on just one side of the bridge.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a type of restorative treatment used to help a tooth function at its optimum level by helping preserve the integrity of the tooth. When used to encase a tooth that was severely decayed or damaged, it helps protect the tooth from further decay. The crown or “cap” is shaped like a tooth fixed onto teeth that are decayed, broken, weak, or worn down.

What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?

Dental crowns are made from different materials such as metal, resin, and porcelain. The best type of crown for you depends on a few things, like how much you can spend, what you like, and what you want for your oral health.

There are many types of dental crowns, to determine which is the correct solution for your situation depends on your personal preferences and unique oral health needs. These are the most common dental crown options:

• Metal Crowns
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns
• Pressed Ceramic Crowns
• All-Ceramic or Porcelain Crowns
• All-Resin Crowns
• Same-Day Dental Crowns

When Is a Dental Crown Needed?

Dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and teeth that have had root canal treatment.

In case of a crack, it encapsulates the tooth, acting as a splint, protecting from the wedging action created by the crack, protecting from further decay, and helping prevent the progression of the crack. Dental crowns have the ability to restore the tooth or replace a missing tooth to its natural position, thereby helping to maintain function, aesthetics, and chewing ability, and not alter speech.

In addition to teeth that are damaged due to decay or trauma, a tooth that has undergone a root canal will also require a crown to protect the tooth and prevent it from fracturing. Root canal treatment is incomplete without the crown because the tooth is still prone to reinfection and highly susceptible to fracture. Severely discolored teeth can also benefit from the crowns.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

With proper care, dental crowns can last anywhere from five to fifteen years. Crowns are strong, but they can still get damaged. Eventually, you’ll need to replace them. Going to the dentist regularly and taking good care of your teeth can help your crown last for a long time.

What Happens During the Dental Crown Procedure?

Crown treatment at our McLean, VA dental office consists of two appointments. During your initial consultation, Dr. Colospate will take diagnostic records, provide a diagnosis, and explain your treatment plan and various options. We will also take an impression of the tooth that needs a crown and the teeth surrounding it. This impression is sent to our lab, where your crown will be customized to fit perfectly with the rest of your natural teeth.

You will then return to our office for a second appointment where Dr. Colospate will permanently place your crown, and ensure that it looks beautiful and functions properly.

Why Choose Dr. Colospate as Your Dental Crown Specialist in McLean, VA?

Our crowns are different because we don’t treat just one tooth. Whether it is a single crown, multiple crowns, or an implant crown, we do a comprehensive evaluation and extensive treatment planning. We use necessary diagnostic tools (digital scans, X-rays, diagnostic models, wax up, and photographs) to create a final restoration that is in harmony with the rest of the teeth.

Just do a quick search for, “x-ray services mclean va” to see the 21st-century diagnostic tools we employ at McLean Healthy Smiles.

Our crowns are truly custom-made—it’s not one size fits all. The level of detail we put into our crowns leads to comfortable, esthetically pleasing, long-lasting restorations.

Crowns help restore balance, harmony, form, and function. To find out if crown treatment is right for your smile, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Colospate.