A dental crown is a cap that covers the entire surface of a tooth damaged by significant decay or breakage. The dental crown restores shape, size, and aesthetics, and provides strength to the tooth structure. The procedure is straightforward:
- It is comparable to getting a filling, but a larger portion of the tooth is involved.
All areas of damage and decay are removed. The tooth structure is reduced to allow room for the crown. - Dr. Kohli takes impressions of your mouth, sending them to a dental lab where your permanent crown is precisely crafted of natural-looking, luminous porcelain.
- You’ll be fitted with a temporary dental crown, meanwhile, to maintain chewing function and appearance.
- You will return for the placement of your permanent dental crown, which may be made of all-porcelain (for front restorations) or porcelain-fused-to-metal, a bit stronger for crowns on back teeth that sustain a great deal of bite pressure.
Porcelain dental crowns are very durable. With your usual good oral hygiene, daily brushing and flossing and regular dental visits, you may expect a crown to last many years. Be assured that, if your crown should become loose or chip from biting into hard foods, it can be easily repaired or replaced.
Dental Bridges
A bridge is a fixed appliance that bridges a gap between teeth.
The teeth on either side of the space are prepped and crowned. Then, an artificial tooth is fused to the dental crowns adjoining the gap. The process usually takes two visits, similar to getting a single crown one for shaping and impressions, then a follow-up when the temporaries are removed and the permanent bridge is cemented into place. A bridge may be used to replace a single missing tooth or several teeth. It is a fixed prosthetic so it cannot be removed like a partial denture.
