Crowns and Bridges
What Are Dental Crowns & Bridges?
Dental crowns are a dental prosthetics used to restore a single tooth, while dental bridges are a dental prosthetic used to fill in gaps left by missing teeth. Dental crowns fit over the top of an existing tooth and dental bridges use dental crowns to fit over the teeth surrounding the gap and are connected by a pontic, or fake tooth, that fills the gap. Both dental crowns and dental bridges are permanent and are cemented in place.
Single Appointment Dental Crowns
Single Appointment Crowns are perfect for patients with busy schedules. That’s because we can make your crown in one appointment without sacrificing quality. A same-day crown not only looks natural but is long-lasting. In the past, dentists had to use trays filled with impression material to take physical molds of your teeth. They’d then send those impressions to a lab and place a temporary crown over the tooth in the meantime. The patient will wear the temporary crown for up to 4 weeks while the lab fabricated the crown. Today, we’re able to take a digital scan of your teeth. This is much less invasive and won’t trigger your gag reflex. We design the new crown from the digital impression and mill your new crown in our office.
Benefits of Single Appointment Crowns
- No second appointment
- No physical dental impressions
- No temporary crown
- No waiting for your permanent dental crown
- The crowns look and feel natural
Simple Appointment
Avoid the hassle of needing a temporary crown or having to return to our office for a second appointment. We realize that what may be a simple appointment for us may be difficult for our patients. For that appointment, our patients might have to take time off work, hire a babysitter, or find a ride. If we can eliminate that appointment, and the associated hassle for our patients, we’ve met our goal. Nobody wants to wait, and nobody wants to make two trips when they can get it done in one. We still send off a lab for some of our cases. But 95% of our cases are done in-house with a much quicker turnaround time.
Did You Know?
Zirconia arrives to your dentist’s office in a single block. To fabricate your custom dental crown or bridge, a special machine called a computerized cutting machine (CAD CAM) is used to cut and shape the zirconia to fit over your tooth or teeth.
Types of Bridges
There are different types of dental bridges that can be used depending on the location of the missing tooth. The most commonly used type of dental bridge is the traditional bridge which is crowns placed on teeth adjacent to the missing tooth with a pontic in between them. Another type of dental bridge is the Maryland bonded bridge, which uses dental crowns and metal framework to bond an artificial tooth to an adjacent tooth or teeth. The final type of bridge, cantilever bridge, is a single dental crown attached to a single artificial tooth. This type of bridge is not very common and is not recommended for use in the back of the mouth.
Zirconia Crowns
Dental Artistry offers Zirconia crowns that offer the best aesthetic appearance coupled with extreme durability. Zirconia is the strongest ceramic material used for dental restorations and can withstand the force of chewing while offering the longest-lasting ceramic material. Zirconia is also known for its translucent properties, which enables it to blend well with the existing enamel and surrounding teeth. It is also a biocompatible material, meaning that the risk for inflammation or allergic reaction is significantly decreased.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may need a dental crown if you have teeth that have become damaged, decayed, chipped, or discolored. Dental crowns allow you to keep the tooth while removing and repairing the damage. You may need a dental bridge if you have a missing tooth or teeth and you are looking to regain function and appearance. To find out if a dental crown or bridge is the best option for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sammons and Dr. Laurent of Dental Artistry today!
- Digital impressions taken in office, no temporary crown is necessary
- Impressions and crown are completed in a single appointment
- Crown is milled right in our office for quick turnaround time
- Natural look and feel to your crown
- Zirconia has years of clinical success
- Zirconia can be used effectively with both conventional cementation and adhesive bonding
- Zirconia requires less tooth preparation and preserves the natural tooth structure
- Zirconia will not oxidize like metal, nor will it cause discoloration around the gums
- Zirconia is less abrasive to opposing teeth when compared to metal-ceramic crowns
- Zirconia crowns can be placed in a single dental visit
When having your zirconia crown or bridge placed, you can expect a single visit to Dental Artistry. During this visit, your tooth or teeth will be prepared for your crown or bridge. Preparing your tooth or teeth for a dental crown or bridge consists of removing some enamel and shaping them accordingly. Then a dental impression or scan of your mouth will be taken and used to fabricate your custom dental crown or bridge while you wait. Finally, your permanent crown or bridge will be cemented or adhered to your teeth, then shaped and polished accordingly.
After having your zirconia dental crown or bridge placed, you may notice some temperature sensitivity for a few days after. You may also notice that your gums feel sore. Both the temperature sensitivity and the gum soreness will fade within a week once your teeth have adjusted to the dental crown or bridge.
Due to their durability, zirconia crowns require no additional care outside of your usual dental routine. Your dental routine should consist of brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting Dental Artistry at least twice a year for your dental checkup and professional teeth cleaning. Although zirconia crowns are highly durable, you will still want to avoid damaging behaviors such as nail biting, teeth grinding, using your teeth as an opener, and chewing ice.
Zirconia crowns are resistant to stains as long as the porcelain remains intact. However, if the porcelain gets damaged, then the crown may stain. Things that can damage the porcelain include highly abrasive toothpastes and brushing technique, tar and other substances found in cigarettes, acidic foods and beverages, eating extremely hard or crunchy foods, using your teeth as an opener, and alcoholic beverages. In most cases if stains do develop, they can usually be removed with porcelain polish during your professional teeth cleaning.
Zirconia crowns are the longest-lasting ceramic dental crowns and generally last between 10 and 15 years. They have a similar lifespan to metal crowns, however they offer a much nicer and more natural appearance.
In some cases, zirconia crowns may fall off due to improper fit, lack of adhesive, or from being dislodged while chewing. If this happens, call our office immediately and we will give you instructions on what to do next.
Let Dr. Sammons and Dr. Laurent of Dental Artistry transform your smile while you relax in comfort. Call our Lafayette office today at 337-406-1110 to schedule a consultation and wake up to the smile of your dreams.