A beautiful, healthy, and strong smile significantly adds to your comfort, confidence, and quality of life. However, teeth are prone to damage, decay, and loss due to age, poor oral hygiene, accidents, and injuries. At Ward Creager Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we understand how vital dental restorations are to helping you find your smile again. Crowns and bridges are an excellent dental restoration option that Dr. Ward Creager recommends to his patients in North Ogden, Utah.
What Are Dental Crowns & Bridges?
Dental Crowns
Crowns are tooth-shaped caps used when you have a damaged, decayed, or severely discolored tooth. They are custom-made to fit precisely over your tooth’s entire surface, covering it to the gum line. The dental crowns at our office are made from tooth-colored porcelain, allowing the crown to blend seamlessly with the other teeth and giving you a natural, healthy-looking smile.
Dental Bridges
Bridges, as the name implies, are dental restorations that bridge the gap left by one or more missing teeth. They consist of one or more crowns on either side of the gap, attached to prosthetic teeth, which fill the space in between.
What are the Benefits of
Crowns & Bridges?
Crowns and bridges offer several benefits, including:
Crowns and bridges effectively restore the functionality of damaged or missing teeth, improving chewing and speaking abilities.
Crafted from porcelain, these dental appliances closely resemble natural teeth in color and shape, enhancing your smile.
With proper care, dental crowns and bridges can last many years, providing a long-term solution.
A dental crown provides a shield for a damaged tooth, protecting it from further harm. In addition, bridges can support adjacent teeth and preserve the jawbone’s natural shape, preventing the face from sagging.
Bridges and crowns are custom-made to fit your mouth, ensuring comfort and ease of use.
When a tooth is lost, the remaining teeth are no longer held in place and can start to move. If this happens, they no longer line up correctly when you bite down. A dental bridge helps prevent this.
Gum contouring, also known as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting, is another effective dental procedure to improve your smile. This procedure involves carefully reshaping the gum line to reveal a balanced, more aesthetically pleasing smile.
The Crown & Bridge Procedures
Crowns
To prepare the tooth for a crown, Dr. Creager will remove some of the tooth’s outer layer, creating space for the crown. Then, he will make an impression, or exact copy, of the tooth and send it to a dental lab so the final crown can be created to fit precisely in your mouth. Meanwhile, a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth until the permanent one is ready. About two weeks later, you return to the office so Dr. Creager can cement the final crown in place. Sometimes, slight alterations are made to the crown at this point to make sure it fits comfortably in your mouth and blends seamlessly with the surrounding teeth.
Bridges
To place a bridge, Dr. Creager will first prepare the neighboring teeth (abutment teeth) by filing them down to accommodate the crowns, which will hold the bridge in place. Then, he will take an impression, or exact copy, of the prepared teeth and the gap so that the dental lab can create the bridge. During the waiting period, a temporary bridge will be placed. Once the permanent bridge is ready, Dr. Creager will make sure it fits well and is comfortable before bonding it with dental cement.
Caring For
Crowns & Bridges
With proper care and maintenance, crowns and bridges can last many years. However, they require regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental checkups to make sure they remain clean and well-fitted, free from plaque and decay. It is important to avoid damage to your teeth after receiving restorative dental care by avoiding biting hard foods, chewing on ice, or using teeth as tools. We also recommend avoiding smoking or consuming staining foods and beverages that can discolor or weaken the crown or bridge.
Crowns and Bridges
in North Ogden, UT
Dental crowns and bridges are invaluable tools that can revolutionize your oral health and transform your smile. If you have damaged, decayed, or missing teeth, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ward Creager at Ward Creager Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today! Investing in your dental health is investing in your overall health, improving your confidence and quality of life.
