Crowns and Bridges

Serving the Midwest City, Choctaw, and Harrah Areas

Dental restoration
Crowns and bridgework are restorative - they restore natural teeth that have been damaged, decayed or lost. They can correct:

• Missing teeth
• Bite dysfunction
• Functional or structural problems

The purpose of a crown is to restore a damaged individual tooth to its original form and function, and a bridge can replace one or more teeth. These restorations are bonded onto the teeth and are referred to as "fixed" dentistry, as opposed to removable appliances or partial dentures.

Dental Crowns

A crown is a cap that’s fitted over a tooth to increase its strength and durability. It gives a cleaner smoother look, instead of the mismatched, patched look of old dental fillings.

It's a great option when a tooth

• Has extensive damage or decay, such that dental fillings can't keep it strong enough, or
• Is fractured and in danger of breaking down into the root if left unattended

Crowns not only restore the appearance of your teeth but can also affect the muscles in your face. Since they're made to be the same size and shape as your natural tooth, they'll keep your jaw and bite aligned. This prevents a greater share of the biting and chewing from being done by just some teeth, and makes sure that other teeth don't shift their positions.

Dental Crowns can be made of:

• Porcelain (i.e., dental ceramic material)
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (gold or another alloy)
• Gold or some metal alloy

They're most often made of porcelain, as many people want that natural appearance. Older crowns, which have less translucence than present-day crowns, can be removed and replaced with modern crowns for a more pleasing and natural look.

Porcelain crowns are carefully customized in color, to match your other teeth. Gold crowns are nevertheless preferred by some, if they're on back teeth which can't be seen when they smile.

We can discuss the types of materials available if a crown is recommended for you.

Protect Your Crown

When you have a crown, brushing and flossing are just as important as they are with purely natural teeth. The crown protects your remaining tooth from further decay, but only if you protect the crown's base.

If bacteria get under the crown's lower edge, decay can set in underneath the crown, and gum disease can get started. But with careful brushing and flossing, the crown will last for many years.

Dental Bridges

When we have one or more teeth missing, our remaining teeth tend to drift from their proper positions. After a while, this leaves us with a change in our bite, maybe some decay and gum disease, and maybe even more lost teeth.

A bridge is designed to both replace those missing teeth and support the neighboring teeth. It's basically two connected crowns. One crown on each end holds it in place, and between the 2 crowns is the bridge itself, which is actually a false tooth.

A bridge can

• Reduce the risk of gum disease
• Help correct a faulty bite
• Improve our speech

When done by an experienced cosmetic dentist, bridges are very effective and can last as long as ten years or more.

How is bridgework done?

It takes two or three appointments.

• First the two teeth that will be fitted with crowns must be shaped. A thin layer of their enamel is removed to make room for the crown material
• Then impressions are taken of the teeth, from which the crowns and bridge will be built. It's important that the bridge is made to exact specifications so it will fit properly in between the two crowns
• A temporary bridge is fitted to fill the gap until the permanent one is ready
• The finished bridge is fitted into place, adjusted, tested, and then bonded to the two crowns and thus the gap is firmly filled and the neighboring teeth are prevented from migrating

In some cases, the false tooth can be fixed to an implant in the gum, which serves as its root.

Bridgework prevents you from acquiring that sunken-in appearance caused by gaps in the teeth and it stabilizes that area of the dental arch. Now you can return to enjoying your favorite foods. And you have a more youthful appearance, and can smile with confidence.

If you're interested in having cosmetic dentistry in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.