Dental Crowns and Bridges

What is a dental crown?

Dental crowns are used when a tooth has a very large filling that exceeds the natural tooth structure, your tooth had root canal therapy, or for cosmetic reasons.

Dental crowns have many applications. The first is to be installed over a damaged tooth to cap the existing structure, which restores the damaged tooth so it can be used normally. Crowns can also be attached to dental implants to replace missing teeth; these implants will be surgically inserted into the jawbone and serve as the root for the tooth. This procedure keeps the crown steady and secure.

Additionally, dental crowns may also be used to provide extra support for dental bridges. They do not require any special treatment and can be brushed and flossed as normal.

What is a dental bridge?

Dental bridges are commonly used when a patient has lost one or more teeth. They are called bridges because they consist of one or more replacement teeth that bridge the gap that was created when the original teeth became lost. Dental bridges can be secured using abutment crowns on each end or by using permanently installed precision metal mechanisms. At keith + associates dentistry, we custom design each component of a dental bridge to ensure that it looks natural and provides the desired performance.

How do temporary dental crowns work?

To get the impression of your teeth correctly for the permanent dental crown, your dentist must shape the tooth base below it. This could leave your tooth vulnerable in the short period between the creation of the impression and the delivery of the crown. So, the dentist will provide a temporary dental crown to ensure your tooth is protected during this period.

At your fitting appointment, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and fit your permanent crown or bridge to the base.

At Keith + Associates, there’s no need for temporary crowns for our patients as we offer same-day crowns.