Dental Crowns and Bridges Patterson, CA
Crowns and bridges from Plume Dental are a great way to restore your smile. Crowns can cover a damaged or weakened tooth and not only hide the damage or imperfections, but strengthen the integrity of the tooth. If you're missing a tooth, or several teeth in a row, crowns can be used in conjunction with a bridge appliance to replace the missing teeth and restore beauty and function to your smile. Read more about crowns and bridges below and how these restorations may be able to help you improve your smile.
Crowns
Crowns are a cosmetic restoration used to strengthen a tooth or improve its shape. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or partially destroyed by tooth decay.
Crowns are "cemented" onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth's new outer surface. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.
Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings which apply the restorative material directly into your mouth, a crown is fabricated away from your mouth. Your crown is created in a lab from your unique tooth impression which allows a dental laboratory technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements. Your crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw movements function normally once the crown is placed.
Bridges
The purpose of the dental bridge is to replace one or more teeth in a row and to fill the gap left by the missing teeth. Bridges are a great option for many people looking to restore their smile and improve the ability to chew or speak, which are often affected by tooth loss.
Also, because natural teeth begin to shift into the open gap left by the missing tooth, getting a dental bridge prevents teeth from moving out of place and affecting the overall structure and shape of your face. A bridge also improves your bite after tooth loss so that other teeth don’t become damaged or worn down due to an uneven bite.
Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
The success of any bridge depends on its foundation — the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it's very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong.