What are dental crowns?
Dental crowns are prosthetic coverings that fit over a natural tooth that’s been damaged or decayed. Crowns look like your natural teeth and are fully customizable to your specific needs. Typically made from porcelain or ceramic, crowns, also called caps, reinforce weak teeth, or protect a tooth after a large filling or a root canal procedure.
In addition to ceramic and porcelain, LA Dental Town also offers other types of crowns, including:
- Zirconia crowns made from a metal similar to titanium, known for its durability and strength
- BruxZir® crowns, which are solid zirconia and good for people who grind their teeth
- E-max crowns, which are all ceramic for a high level of aesthetic appeal and durability
Your dentist helps you select the type of crown that’s best for your individual needs and lifestyle.
When would I need a crown?
Your dentist at LA Dental Town may recommend a custom-made crown for the following conditions:
- Protect a weak tooth from becoming fractured
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
- Replace a large filling if there isn’t enough tooth to repair
- Restore a fractured or chipped tooth
- As the visible part of a dental implant
- After a root canal
Dental crowns can stand alone or work together with dental bridges to restore your teeth to their optimal form and function.
What are dental bridges?
Dental bridges are oral prosthetic devices that replace one or more missing teeth. They bridge the gap left by a missing tooth, or several missing teeth in a row. Your dentist cements the bridge to your adjacent natural teeth, or uses crowns as support on either side of the missing tooth.
A replacement tooth, known as a pontic, attaches to the crowns and fills in the empty space. Bridges come in several different types, including:
- Traditional fixed bridges, which contain one or more pontics held in place by dental crowns on either side of the missing tooth
- Cantilever bridges, which are cemented to only one tooth adjacent to the missing tooth
- Maryland dental bridges, which are cemented to two natural adjacent teeth
- Implant-supported bridges, in which dental implants support the bridge to hold it in position
If you have a missing or damaged tooth, it’s important to replace or repair it before it leads to further oral health problems. To find out if dental crowns and bridges are right for you, or to learn about other restorative options, call the office today.
