CROWNS AND BRIDGES

What Is a Crown?
A crown, also known as a "cap", is a tooth-like covering used to strengthen, restore, or improve the appearance of your natural tooth.
Crowns serve many functions:

• Support when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling
• Protection for a tooth that is fractured or broken
• Crowns are also used as support structures when a bridge is required.

What Is a Bridge?
To replace one or more missing teeth, a custom designed bridge is anchored to neighboring teeth. When replacing a missing tooth, crowns must be placed on the teeth on either side of the missing one to hold the replacement in place.

Why Is A Bridge Necessary?
Losing a permanent tooth, for whatever reason, can cause many serious problems for your neighboring teeth. The remaining teeth may begin to shift due to changes in support and chewing function. The tooth above or below the lost tooth can begin to move out of its socket, which can accelerate gum disease and further break down the bone structure. If the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth may eventually be lost due to the improper forces exerted during chewing.

Many people hear clicking when their jaw moves. If you feel pain along with the noise, the joint may be damaged.

How To Care For a Crown and Bridge
Along with regular dental hygiene appointments, daily flossing and twice daily brushing will help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.

To make the most of your investment, it?s important that you follow our recommendations - including diet adjustment. We recommend avoiding sticky foods like caramels, gum and taffy, and crunchy foods like hard candy. And please, don?t chew ice cubes!

Contact us today to book your appointment and to discuss any further information you require about crowns and bridges.