Crown and Bridges Belmont WA

Dental crowns and bridges are fixed restorations used to replace a missing or damaged tooth or teeth.

Crowns are caps, made to look and function like your teeth that protect damaged portions of the tooth. They are usually necessary when a root canal treatment is performed, or the teeth are damaged by trauma.

Crowns strengthen and protect the tooth. Your Belmont WA dentist will reshape the remaining tooth and fit you with a temporary crown.

In a few weeks, you will return to have your final crown placed. With proper care, crowns can last for a long time.

Bridges are used to replace missing tooth/teeth when the adjacent teeth are healthy enough to support the restoration. Bridges come in three types: the conventional, cantilever, and resin-bonded bridges.

The Dental Crowns and Bridges Procedure

Z Crowning or Capping a Tooth

On your first visit, your Belmont WA dentist may take X-rays to check the root and supporting bone of the tooth. The tooth is filed down along the chewing surface, to help crowns be fit snugly over the tooth.

After filing the tooth, your Belmont WA dentist will use paste, putty, or a digital scanner to take impressions of the tooth. The impressions are sent to the dental laboratory where the crown will be fabricated.

Your Belmont WA dentist will cap you with a temporary crown while the final crown is being manufactured.

Z Receiving the Permanent Dental Crown

At the second visit, your Belmont WA dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit and colour of the final crown.

Z Creating Bridges

On your initial visit, the abutment teeth are shaped by removing a portion of enamel and dentin to make room for the crown. Impressions of your teeth are then created. Your Belmont WA dentist will place a temporary bridge while your bridge is being fabricated in a dental laboratory.

During your second visit, the temporary bridge will be removed, and the new permanent bridge will be adjusted to achieve the perfect fit.

If the bridge is fixed, your Belmont WA dentist may bond it in place for a few days, making sure it fits perfectly. When the final fit is achieved, the bridge is permanently bonded in place.

Z Care for Crowns and Bridges

While dental restorations are made to last for a long time, they sometimes loosen or fall out. To keep your restorations in good condition, maintain a good oral hygiene routine. A bridge can loosen if the teeth or bone holding it in place are infected or damaged.

Keep your mouth healthy by brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste twice a day and flossing once daily. Also, see your Belmont WA dentist regularly for check-ups and cleans.

To prevent any damage to your crown or bridge, avoid biting and chewing hard foods, ice, or other hard objects.