Modern dentistry can work wonders with your teeth to make them look beautiful and last a lifetime, and it is often painless. A tooth that is missing does more than damage your looks; it can cause changes in your bite and allow other teeth to shift. Keeping a full set of teeth contributes to good health, and Dr. Muller works with bridges and crowns to fill the space when you lose or break a tooth.
Understanding the Need for a Dental Bridge
Crowns and bridges solve dental problems, and each has a special purpose. When one or more teeth are missing, a dental bridge is a remedy that we often recommend. The prosthetic device is called a bridge because it attaches to the teeth on either side of the open space and fills it permanently. By bridging the gap between your two anchor teeth, the device looks like your other teeth, and it restores them to full function.
Preventing the movement of teeth into the gap created by missing teeth is as important as providing an improved appearance. Changes in your bite occur when a tooth is missing, and they can have dangerous consequences. Gum disease can result and cause the loss of more teeth, and disorders in the temporomandibular joint often result in pain in the jaw and face.
Deciding to Get a Dental Crown
Sometimes referred to as a “cap”, a crown improves the look and function of a broken, cracked, discolored or chipped tooth. Teeth that have large fillings can benefit from a crown to prevent breakage of the natural wall, and it strengthens your anchor teeth when you need a bridge. Dr. Muller discusses with you the types of material that are best for your crown so that you understand your options. After you agree on a choice, he develops a cap that is permanently cemented onto the base of your natural tooth.
Learning about the Procedure
Preparing your teeth for a crown or a bridge requires the doctor to reduce the size of a damaged tooth or the anchor teeth. The teeth that support your bridge need crowning to make them stronger so that the bridge has a solid base. After your teeth are reduced in size, Dr. Muller uses an elastic material to form an exact impression of the tooth that needs a crown or a gap that needs a bridge.
Waiting for the Day
Preparing a prosthetic device that is custom made for you takes two or three weeks at a dental lab. Patients who need a bridge get a temporary one during this time to prevent the movement of permanent teeth. Placing a bridge in your mouth is a painless process that involves removing the temporary device and replacing it with the permanent one. When seating a crown, Dr. Muller removes the temporary cap so that he can cement the permanent one in place.
Caring for a New Bridge or Crown
Good oral hygiene is as important for your bridge or crown as it is for your natural teeth. After you get a bridge or crown, your teeth may experience some sensitivity to temperature changes, and using toothpaste for sensitive teeth usually resolves any issues. Crowns usually have a lifespan of up to 15 years, but they are subject to chipping or cracking like your natural teeth if you chew on ice or other hard objects. Flossing daily, using fluoride toothpaste and having regular dental checkups are good practices when you have a crown.