Dental Crowns and Bridges Can Restore Your Smile and Dental Function
Dr. Gary Kinder is a skilled dentist who can design and place dental crowns and bridges at our Knoxville, TN, dental practice to repair or replace missing teeth. If you have a tooth that has been impaired by tooth decay, trauma, or disease, a customized dental crown will fit over the top to restore the tooth’s structural integrity. A bridge can replace one or a couple adjacent missing teeth with prosthetic teeth attached to crowns. A crown can also be attached to a dental implant to replace a single missing tooth, and a bridge can be anchored with implants for maximum durability and permanence.
How Dental Crowns and Bridges Work
A dental crown is designed to completely cover a tooth that has been cracked, decayed, or otherwise heavily damaged. Crowns are also used with root canal therapy to seal and strengthen the tooth. The major advantage to crowns is that they prevent an extraction and restore the tooth back to its natural function and appearance. Dental crowns can also be used in cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers to improve the appearance of a tooth that is small, misshapen, or discolored.
Dr. Kinder uses natural-looking and durable materials to restore the appearance and function of your smile.
A bridge does just as its name states: it bridges the gap left behind by one or more missing teeth. It is designed as one piece, with two dental crowns and a pontic (artificial tooth) in between. Both a dental crown and bridge are permanently placed over your remaining teeth with dental cement.
For front teeth that have been damaged, Dr. Kinder will design your customized restoration with IPS e.max, a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic. For back teeth that are missing or have been damaged, he will use zirconia for its resilience. Both materials provide lifelike aesthetics, improved function, and three times the strength and durability compared to other ceramic restorations.
When You May Need a Dental Crown or Bridge
Candidates for dental crowns and bridges at our practice are patients who:
- Have severe tooth decay that a tooth-colored filling cannot repair
- Have tooth discoloration or staining too severe for teeth whitening
- Have good oral and general health
- Have healthy gums free of periodontal disease
- Have one or more missing teeth in a row
- Want to restore the appearance and function of their smile
- Have excessive wearing due to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
- Have severe tooth decay that a tooth-colored filling cannot repair
- Have tooth discoloration or staining too severe for teeth whitening
- Have good oral and general health
- Have healthy gums free of periodontal disease
- Have one or more missing teeth in a row
- Want to restore the appearance and function of their smile
- Have excessive wearing due to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
Dental Crown and Bridge Procedure
The entire dental crown and bridge procedure requires two appointments. During the initial consultation, Dr. Kinder will administer a local anesthetic for optimal comfort, remove any decay, and gently reshape the tooth. Once the tooth has been adequately prepared, Dr. Kinder will take impressions for the dental lab to use in fabricating your restoration, and then place a temporary restoration while you wait for your permanent one to be completed. The entire appointment will take about two hours.
In one to two weeks, once your restoration is completed and delivered, Dr. Kinder will permanently attach it. He will first remove the temporary restoration and rest the customized dental crown or bridge over your tooth to check that it fits properly. Modifications can be made to ensure comfort and functionality. Once you and Dr. Kinder are satisfied, he will attach the restoration with dental cement. Each case is unique, but in most cases, the appointment can be completed in about 30 minutes.
Benefits of Dental Crowns and Bridges
Patients who choose to restore their smile with a dental crown or bridge enjoy many benefits, including:
- Improved appearance and dental functionality
- Natural-looking and long-lasting results
- Stabilization of the remaining teeth, which prevents damage from occurring
- Maintenance of jawbone integrity, if supported by dental implants
Improve Your Smile Today
If you have a tooth that is severely damaged, decayed, or missing, a customized dental crown or bridge is a trusted solution to restore the appearance and functionality of your smile. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.