A missing or damaged tooth affects your smile, confidence, and feelings about yourself. Dentists recommend restorative treatments like dental crowns and bridges to replace missing teeth and restore your teeth’ functionality and your smile. But you need quality dental care to enjoy long-term service with your new restorations. Our dentists at The Lakewood Dentist have the skills, knowledge, and experience to offer quality installation and provide after-care services to ensure you enjoy a beautiful smile for a long time. We offer the entire family several unbeatable and affordable dental care services. Talk to us to understand your options and to enjoy a seamless restoration process if you seek help with a damaged or missing tooth in Lakewood.
An Overview of Dental Crowns
When you visit your dentist’s office with a severely damaged or missing tooth, they will recommend several treatment options based on its location. Dental crowns and bridges are prevalent recommendations for problems like these. They restore your look and feel and the functionality of your teeth.
Crowns are preferred mainly due to their versatility. They can also address several dental problems, including damaged or knocked-out teeth. Dentists make dental crowns in the lab to match your needs and preferences. The dentist will customize the crown to ensure it fits perfectly over the remaining part of the damaged tooth, protecting it and improving its appearance.
Dental Issues That Require the Installation of a Dental Crown
Dentists recommend dental crowns in several situations, including the following:
Extensive Tooth Decay
If you have a severely decayed tooth, you will likely struggle to smile or chew. An extensive decay means that the decay has consumed part of the tooth, and the remaining part is not strong enough to allow the tooth to function as it should. A decayed tooth is also an eyesore. It will not let you smile or socialize confidently. Your dentist can remove the decayed part of the tooth and cover it with a dental crown. The crown protects the tooth from further damage and strengthens and restores its functionality.
Tooth Damage or Extensive Fracture
A general dentist can repair minor damage to the tooth without taking you through a restorative procedure. But if the injury or fracture is extensive and affects the appearance and functionality of your tooth, your dentist can recommend a dental crown. Dental crowns work very well on chipped, fractured, and cracked teeth. Crowns act as protective barriers against further damage, restoring the structural support of the teeth and giving them a fresh look and feel.
After Root Canal Therapy
Dentists perform root canal therapy on infected teeth with damaged pulp or underlying structures. The procedure involves accessing the affected tooth’s pulp, removing the infected parts, and sealing the tooth again. After the procedure, the affected tooth becomes fragile. Your dentist can recommend a dental crown to restore its functionality and strength.
For Misshapen or Discolored Teeth
You can also use a dental crown to improve the appearance of your teeth. For example, if one or more of your teeth are discolored or misshapen, a crown can give them the right shape and cover up the discoloration. That gives you back the confidence to smile and socialize.
Various Types of Crowns
Dental crowns come in different types based on the materials used. Here are the most popular options in the industry today:
Porcelain Dental Crowns
These popular dental crowns have excellent aesthetic appeal. Your dentist can customize your crowns to match the exact color of your natural teeth. That way, no one will notice the difference, and you can confidently smile. Porcelain crowns are best installed on visible or front teeth.
Metal Dental Crowns
Dentists have a variety of metal crowns to recommend, including those made from base metal alloys, gold alloys, and platinum alloys. These are preferred mainly for their strength and durability. You can choose these for the molars and premolars since you need crowns that can withstand considerable chewing forces for the back teeth restorations. However, metal crowns do not give you the advantage of aesthetics.
Porcelain Fused to Metal or PFMs
These excellent choices combine metal’s strength and durability with porcelain’s aesthetics. After restoration, you can enjoy a great look and feel for a long time.
All Porcelain or All-Ceramic Crowns
These are made from ceramic or porcelain. They provide excellent aesthetics and are also a metal-free alternative. Your dentist will recommend these if you are allergic to metal and require solid and great-looking dental crowns.
Dental Crowns Installation Process
Your dentist will take you through the following process to have a dental crown on your damaged or missing tooth:
Dental Exam and Preparation
Every dental treatment must start with examining the affected tooth or teeth, the other teeth, and other parts of your mouth. Your dentist must ensure that the recommended treatment is suitable for the problem you are experiencing and your needs. By examining the damaged tooth, the dentist ensures that it is the right candidate for a dental crown.
If it fits the criteria, the dentist will prepare it to make it ready for installation. Preparation could entail removing part of the natural tooth for the crown to fit perfectly.
Installation of a Temporary Dental Crown
Creating a customized dental crown in the lab takes a few days. Since your already-prepared tooth cannot be left unprotected, the dentist will use a temporary dental crown to protect it until you are ready for the installation. The temporary crown will protect the tooth, make it functional, and keep it in good shape for a few days.
Crown Installation
Once it is ready, you will return to the dentist’s office to install your crown. The dentist will first fit it over the prepared tooth to see how well, or otherwise, it fits. They can adjust it slightly before permanently installing it over your tooth. Dentists use dental cement to install dental crowns. The crown is permanently bonded with the prepared tooth.
Reasons to Choose Dental Crowns
Crowns provide several benefits to dental patients with damaged or missing teeth. Some benefits to consider when choosing a restorative treatment procedure are:
Protection and Strength
A severely damaged tooth risks further damage unless a strong crown protects it. You cannot use that tooth or one part of your mouth if you have several damaged teeth. Dental crowns protect damaged teeth against further damage. They also restore the tooth’s strength, making it easier to use your teeth as you usually would.
Great Aesthetics
A person’s smile is affected by several factors, including tooth discoloration and damage. These are some of the issues you can solve with a dental crown. A crown can improve the appearance of your discolored or decayed tooth. The good news is that you can choose a crown with great aesthetics to improve your general appearance and feel.
Durability or Longevity
You do not need a dental crown every year for the same tooth. It is because crowns are designed to serve you for years. They are strong, durable, and withstand the regular forces of biting and chewing, just like natural teeth. You can enjoy an even longer time with dental crowns if you properly care for them. Maintaining good oral hygiene is one way to keep your crowns in perfect working condition for years.
Comfortable and Functional
You maintain comfort with dental restoration. Your comfort is one of the factors your dentist will consider when recommending the proper treatment for your damaged or lost teeth. Dental crowns are customized to fit your teeth and mouth. They are created to look exactly like natural teeth and will restore your chewing function and natural bite. You will feel a little strange right after the installation, but you will enjoy great comfort for the years you wear the crown.
Restored Confidence and Esteem
A problem with one or more of your teeth can significantly affect your confidence and self-esteem. You cannot comfortably smile and enjoy life when your teeth are discolored, one or more teeth are missing, or you have a cavity. A dental crown is an excellent way to restore your confidence and self-esteem. You will no longer worry about the problem you have with your teeth.
How To Care for Dental Crowns After Installation
After receiving a dental crown, you should maintain good oral hygiene. You must also take other precautions to serve you for the required time. Here are examples of the tips your dentists will send you home with, which could help you enjoy a long-term service with your crown:
- Your dentist will advise you to maintain excellent oral hygiene. It entails brushing your teeth twice daily or after every meal and flossing at least once. That should remove any food particles remaining in the mouth after eating. While brushing and flossing, pay special attention to the crown and be as gentle as possible when cleaning around it.
- You should rinse your mouth with a recommended mouthwash to reduce dangerous bacteria and boost oral hygiene.
- You must avoid hard or chewy foods like hard candy and ice since they can damage your crown.
- Avoid sticky foods (like chewing gum, taffy, and caramel), as they can pull out your crown.
- Visit your dentist’s office regularly for dental checkups and professional cleanings. Your dentist examines your crown every time you visit their office to ensure it works well. They can make necessary repairs and adjustments if need be.
- If you play sports, you could wear a mouth guard and risk sustaining mouth-related injuries.
- Your dentist will advise you against damaging habits like teeth clenching and grinding, which could damage your teeth and crown.
- Contact your dentist immediately if you notice or suspect a problem with your dental crown.
Dental Bridges
Though very different from dental crowns, dental bridges are restorations that serve almost the same purpose. They are the most recommended for restoring one or several missing teeth. A bridge is like a bridge that connects the space between two natural teeth on both sides of a missing tooth. They complete the set of your natural teeth and restore your teeth’s functionality and your smile. Bridges can also maintain proper teeth alignment after tooth loss.
Types of Bridges
Just like dental crowns, dentists have several options to recommend for dental bridges. The choice of the bridge you make will depend on your preference, the location of your missing tooth or teeth, and the health of the neighboring teeth. Here are the types of bridges available in the industry today for your consideration:
Traditional Fixed Dental Bridge
It is a prevalent type of bridge today. It comprises an artificial tooth held in position by two dental crowns installed on each adjacent tooth. The crowns are permanently installed on the neighboring teeth on both sides of the space created by the missing tooth, holding the bridge firmly in position.
Cantilever Dental Bridge
Dentists install this type of bridge whenever there is just one neighboring tooth to hold the bridge. It features a pontic attached to an installed dental crown on the adjacent tooth, supporting and stabilizing the bridge.
Maryland Dental Bridge
It is a resin-bonded dental bridge featuring pontic, porcelain, or mental wings. The pontic attaches to the neighboring teeth using the porcelain or metal wings. Maryland bridges are a very conservative option and are most preferred for restoring missing visible teeth or teeth with minimal biting force.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridges
These are excellent choices where you miss multiple teeth in one consecutive row. Your dentist will surgically install dental implants in your jawbone to support the bridge. Implants provide excellent stability for dental bridges. Therefore, you can enjoy great functionality for a very long time.
Dental Bridge Installation Process
The dentist will take you through these steps to prepare and install a dental bridge to restore your missing tooth or teeth:
Dental Examination and Planning
First, you must evaluate your oral health to determine if you are the right candidate for a dental bridge. To do that, your dentist examines your teeth, gums, jawbone, and underlying structures. They will use X-rays or other diagnostic tools to explore the areas below your teeth and gums. The exam will reveal the state of your missing tooth, the neighboring teeth, and how strong your bone structures are. Your dentist can develop a treatment program that meets your needs with that information.
Preparing the Abutment
The abutment is the adjacent natural teeth on both sides of the missing tooth or teeth. The dentist must prepare them for dental crown installation. The preparation process involves removing some parts of their enamel to ensure that a dental crown fits perfectly over them. The dentist can take an impression of the abutment teeth to custom-make dental crowns in a dental lab. Remember that these teeth will support the pontic to create a dental bridge.
Placement of a Temporary Dental Bridge
It takes a few days for the dentist to create a customized dental bridge in the lab. But they cannot allow you to go home with already-prepared teeth, as it will affect how you feel and your teeth function. Dentists use temporary bridges to enable you to use your teeth before placing an actual bridge. The temporary installation will protect your prepared teeth and allow you to speak and eat.
Dental Bridge Installation
You will return to the dentist’s office to have your dental bridge installed once it is ready. The dentist will remove the temporary bridge and fit the prepared one to measure how well, or otherwise, it fits. They could make adjustments before installing it permanently over the gap created by the missing tooth or teeth. Dentists use dental cement to permanently fix dental bridges in place. With proper care, your bridge can remain functional and in place for years.
Reasons to Consider Having a Dental Bridge
Here are the benefits bridges offer:
Restored Teeth Functionality
It could be challenging to eat or speak after tooth loss. Dental bridges restore your teeth’s functionality, allowing you to do what you naturally did before the loss. A bridge replaces the lost teeth and functions just like a natural tooth.
Improved Aesthetics
A lost tooth or teeth also affects how you look and feel. Dental restoration aims to restore or improve the lost look and feel. You can comfortably speak and smile without worrying about missing one or more teeth.
Maintains Dental Alignment
If missing teeth are not replaced immediately after the loss, adjacent teeth tend to shift to occupy the left gap. That affects your dental alignment and bite and could eventually result in other dental issues like misalignment and TMJ disorders. Replacing the missing tooth with a dental bridge prevents that from happening. It keeps all your teeth in proper positions.
Preserved Facial Structure
If you do not replace missing teeth right after the loss, you could experience a change in your facial structure. Teeth hold your facial muscles in place. Once lost, these muscles lose their support and tend to sag. It gives you an aged appearance, regardless of your actual age. A dental bridge can prevent that by keeping the facial muscles intact.
Functional Teeth for a Long Time
Your natural teeth are strong and durable. Losing one or more natural teeth is a severe blow, as you cannot find an exact replacement. But dentists use bridges and other dental restorations to restore your teeth’ functionality. You can enjoy long-term service after a single installation. Thus, losing one or more teeth is not the end of the road. You can still enjoy functional teeth for a long time with a dental bridge placement.
Caring for Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are designed to serve you for a long time. But you have to take good care of them to enjoy long-term service. Taking proper care of the bridges also ensures you have good oral health. Here are some examples of the tips your dentist can give you after dental bridge placement to ensure you care for them at home:
- Maintain good oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth twice or after every meal. Pay more attention to the area around the restoration to remove any food particles that could remain there. Also, ensure you floss once a day to remove all food particles between your teeth.
- Use an antimicrobial mouthwash to rinse your mouth to maintain good oral hygiene and reduce dangerous bacteria.
- Be gentle when cleaning around your bridge to avoid dislodging or damaging it.
- A balanced diet will keep you in good health. Avoid starchy, sugary, and sticky foods that contribute to decay and buildup, especially around the restoration.
- Hard and chewy foods will also place undue stress on your bridge, causing it to damage or dislodge.
- Maintain a routine of visiting your dentist at least twice a year for checkups and professional teeth cleaning. Your dentist examines your bridge every time you visit their office to ensure it works.
- Use mouthguards to protect your teeth and bridge if you play sports that will likely result in a mouth accident.
- You must stop damaging habits like teeth grinding and clenching, as these can easily damage your bridge, causing you to require a new installation sooner than necessary.
- Pay close attention to how your dental bridge feels. Check out for comfort, appearance, and how it fits. Contact your dentist immediately if you feel something unusual or suspect your bridge has dislodged or been damaged.
Find an Experienced General Dentist Near Me
Tooth damage and loss are serious problems that impact how you feel and look and the functionality of your teeth. Fortunately, general dentists have several restorative treatments they recommend for missing or severely damaged teeth that could restore their look and functionality. Your dentist can recommend receiving a dental crown or bridge, depending on the nature of your problem and the location of the missing tooth in your mouth.
We start by explaining the restoration, its benefits, and what to expect at The Lakewood Dentist. By giving you complete information about a particular treatment, we allow you to weigh your options and make an informed decision. Our dentists have the skills and knowledge to perform quality dental restorative procedures for the entire family. Thus, you can count on our support if you need a solution for your missing tooth or teeth in Lakewood, CA. Call us at 562-423-1441 to learn more about our dental crown and bridge installation services.