Bridges and crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented or bonded onto existing teeth or implants by the dentist. Crowns are used most commonly to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth or cover an implant. Bridges are commonly used to cover a space if you’re missing one or more teeth. They are cemented to natural teeth or implants surrounding the space where the tooth once stood.
In addition to strengthening a damaged tooth, bridges and crowns can be used to improve a tooth’s appearance, shape, and alignment, and dental occlusion (bite).
Dr. Oliveira may recommend a crown to:
A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. You may have a choice of implants instead of bridges. Dr. Oliveira can help you decide which treatment to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, hard and soft structure (gum and bone) available, aesthetic considerations and cost.