Dental Crowns and Bridges in Southlake
Our mouths are meant to hold a specific number of teeth, and it is only with all of your teeth that your mouth can function at its full potential. Even with regular cleanings, teeth are susceptible to decay, injury, or other causes. If you have lost a tooth, cosmetic dentist Dr. Wright can craft crowns and bridges that will provide you with a long-lasting restorative solution.
What Are Crowns and Bridges?
Crowns are artificial caps that are placed over teeth to restore their full function. When used in conjunction with a bridge, crowns can hold an artificial tooth in place to replace one that is missing. Dental crowns come in a variety of materials, each suited for different locations in the dental arch and for different patients’ needs. Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron prefer to use two particular state-of-the-art crown materials whenever possible:
- E Max porcelain. E Max is a brand of dental ceramics that blends carefully layered, highly reflective porcelain for true-to-life esthetics with a high level of durability. E Max porcelain wears like real teeth, so your crown will age naturally along with your natural teeth. Dental restorations made from E Max porcelain are an excellent choice for capping the front teeth.
- Zirconia. This type of dental porcelain contains zirconium oxide. Zirconia is the strongest substance used in dentistry today and it provides an ideal choice for capping a tooth in the back of the mouth where the teeth must sustain constant bite force and wear. Zirconia alone is rather opaque and, as such, does not make a good choice for the front teeth. However, if you would prefer a more durable zirconia crown, our trusted dental lab technicians can layer translucent porcelain over a zirconia core to achieve a more true-to-life look.
Bridges provide a way to maintain the alignment of your teeth. When a tooth is missing, the teeth on either side of the gap will begin to move, causing you discomfort. When teeth move like this, it also adversely affects your bite pattern, leading to extra wear and tear on teeth.
What Are the Benefits of Crowns and Bridges?
A crown anchored bridge can fill the gap left in your smile by missing teeth. A bridge can restore your smile to its top shape and functionality. A bridge can also help restore your ability to properly chew and talk. When your tongue attempts to push against your teeth to form a word, that word can come out improperly if there is no tooth to push against. You may have noticed that you have a bit of a lisp since losing your tooth. A dental bridge can restore your speech to normal.
With crowns and bridges, your teeth will remain properly aligned. Another added benefit is that the pressure on your teeth will be equally distributed over the entire dental arch, helping to reduce the amount of wear and tear on other teeth.
What Can I Expect from a Dental Bridge?
All things considered, the procedure for placing a dental bridge is fairly simple. Your dentist will take images of your mouth to collect measurements. An impression will be made of your bite in order to create a bridge that fits your mouth properly.
The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for their crowns. Just like the application of one single crown, the crowns are permanently cemented to the existing teeth. The artificial tooth sits right on the gum, taking the place of the one that is missing. Your dental bridge can only be removed by a dentist. Unlike full or partial dentures, a dental bridge is a fixed solution to missing teeth.