Crowns & Bridges

Crowns & Bridges

If you lose one or several teeth, or some of your teeth aren't in the best condition, crowns and bridges are an excellent solution. Afshin Vahadi, DDS, and Vafa Mirshams, DDS, and the dental professionals at Lone Star Dental Care in Frisco, Texas, use the latest implant technologies and materials on replacement teeth to give you a beautiful, natural-looking smile. Call Lone Star Dental Care today to find out more or book an appointment using the online form.

Crowns & Bridges Q & A

What are crowns and bridges?

A dental crown is a cover that fits over your natural tooth to improve the tooth's appearance. A crown entirely covers the visible area of your tooth above your gum line and looks exactly like a real tooth. Dental crowns help to restore a tooth's shape and size, as well as strengthening the tooth. A dental bridge is a useful way of replacing a lost tooth. Bridges work by suspending a replacement tooth (called a pontic) between the teeth on either side of the gap. These teeth are called the abutment teeth, which your dentist at Lone Star Dental Care covers with dental crowns.

What are crowns and bridges made of?

Crowns and bridges could be metal, ceramic, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or resin. The Lone Star Dental Care team also uses zirconia, which is similar to porcelain in appearance. However, zirconia more closely resembles natural teeth and is more durable than porcelain, which reduces the risk you'll need further dental work to repair or replace your crowns in the future.

How are crowns and bridges fitted?

To prepare for your fitting at Lone Star Dental Care, your dentist takes digital X-rays to check the condition of the tooth, socket, and surrounding jaw. Any injury or infection might require root canal treatment before proceeding with a crown. You might also need bone grafting if your jaw bone is weak or diseased.

Crowns

After anesthetizing the tooth and gum, your dentist reshapes the tooth on its chewing surface and around the sides. If there's a substantial part of the tooth missing, your dentist might use filling material to create a stable base for the crown.

Bridges

Your dentist shapes the teeth on either side of the gap (abutment teeth) to prepare them for the crowns that support your bridge. Once they've reshaped your tooth or prepared the abutment teeth, your dentist uses the iTero Element intraoral scanner to create images of your teeth and jaws. They send the images to a dental laboratory for the custom manufacture of your crown or bridge. You need to wear a temporary crown or bridge to protect the area until your replacement arrives. When your permanent crown’s ready, your dentist checks the fit and coloring, and if all is well, cements it into place. Another advantage of zirconia crowns is that you don't have to wait – the team makes and fits your crown the same day. Find out whether crowns or bridges are the right choice for improving your smile by calling Lone Star Dental Care today or book an appointment online.