Dental Bridges & Crowns

Dental bridges and crowns are restorative options to replace missing or damaged teeth. They also help restore your natural smile and prevent future oral health issues, such as loosened or misshapen teeth.

As the name suggests, dental bridges help ‘bridge’ the gap created by missing teeth and replace them with artificial teeth. Bridges attach to your surrounding teeth to provide support. Dental bridges can be made from a gold alloy or ceramic porcelain.

Dental bridges provide many benefits to patients, including:

• They restore your natural smile.
• They restore your natural ability to chew and speak.
• They maintain the shape of your face.
• They redistribute the force in your bite.
• They prevent the remaining teeth from shifting out of position.

During your consultation, Dr. Weishoff goes over your medical and dental history and examines your mouth and the area where bridgework is needed. Sometimes, x-rays and a scan of your teeth may be ordered.

After the exam, Dr. Weishoff evaluates whether the teeth that hold the bridges are strong enough to support them. If not, some additional dental work might be needed to prepare the site. For example, some patients may need root canals before dental bridges are placed. Once Dr. Weishoff completes the preparational work, she schedules your appointment for bridgework.

The process for dental bridges is as follows: 

• A local anesthetic is administered around the teeth to numb the area.
• The teeth are reshaped to make space for the bridge, which could take an hour.
• CAD/CAM technology is used to fabricate your bridge from a ceramic block. 
• The dental bridge is fitted and glued into place.

Dental crowns sit on your teeth like protective covers. They help rebuild damaged teeth and restore them to their original shape, size, and strength, improving their appearance. Once crowns are in place, they cover the entire visible portion of teeth lying at and above the gum line. Crowns are usually recommended for patients with broken or fractured teeth that cannot be fixed with a filling. In such cases, crowns seal the crevices and hold the teeth together so that the damage doesn’t worsen.

Dental crowns provide many benefits to patients, including:

• They protect a weak tooth from breaking.
• They hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
• They restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that is severely worn. 
• They cover and support a tooth with a large filling
• They hold a dental bridge in place.
• They cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth.
• They cover a dental implant.
• They make cosmetic improvements.
• They restore your ability to chew and speak properly.
• They maintain the shape of your face.
• They redistribute the forces in your bite by replacing missing teeth.
• They prevent the remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

Dental crowns may be recommended for children if:

• They can save a primary baby tooth that is too damaged or decayed to support a filling.
• They can protect a tooth at high risk of decay, especially if there is a lack of routine for daily oral hygiene.
• They can decrease the frequency of general anesthesia for children who cannot follow proper dental care due to age, behavior, or medical history.

During your consultation, Dr. Weishoff goes over your medical and dental history before examining your mouth and the area where the crown is needed. She may take a few X-rays to check the root of the tooth and surrounding bone. If the tooth has extensive decay or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the tooth’s pulp, she may recommend that you have a root canal before you have a dental crown placed.

The process for dental crowns is similar to dental bridges. 

• A local anesthetic is administered around the teeth to numb the area.
• The teeth are reshaped to make space for the crown, which could take an hour.
• CAD/CAM technology is used to fabricate your crown from a ceramic block. 
• The dental crown is fitted and glued into place.

Bridges and crowns can last 20-25 years as long as you practice good oral hygiene. 

Follow these care tips for your dental bridges and crowns:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily.
• Schedule regular check-ups for professional cleanings and dental exams.
• Avoid chewing on hard foods and ice.

With proper care of your dental bridges and crowns, they can last up to 15 years or longer.

If you are considering dental bridges or crowns to restore missing or damaged teeth, contact Mt. Angel Dental at (503) 845-2273 to schedule an appointment, or you may request an appointment online.