Crowns & Bridges
Protecting damaged teeth and restoring functionality; Dental crowns restore badly damaged teeth due to fracture, cracks and/or decay. Teeth that have had a root canal performed on them will also be a candidate for a dental crown. Crowns restore a damaged tooth by encasing it in a strong, protective material such as gold, porcelain or zirconia. Our crowns are fabricated in a state-of-the-art lab that allow them to be perfectly designed to fit with the neighboring and opposing teeth.The Procedure: We begin with a diagnostic scan which is electronically sent to the lab creating the crown. A cast is completed to form the temporary crown that will be worn while the crown is fabricated. The tooth is then reduced about 1-1.5mm on all exposed surfaces. Once the tooth is reduced, a final scan is completed. A shade match, clinical photo and instruction for optimal crown aesthetic will also be included and sent. At a short follow-up appointment (10 business days later), the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is permanently cemented into place.
The process is the exact same for a bridge preparation, most commonly spanning three teeth including a missing middle tooth. The two exterior teeth are prepped as described above and a pontic (artificial) crown is created to span the gap. The bridge is constructed as a single prosthetic.