5.18.2011

Dental Crowns and Bridges - An Introduction

Crowns and bridges are often mentioned together in restorative dentistry, which deals with restoring natural teeth that have become damaged, decayed or lost. Both crowns and bridges offer an alternative to dentures in replacing missing or damaged teeth.

In contrast to removable dentures, crowns and bridges are called fixed prosthetic devices. This is because they and are cemented onto teeth or to other implants and can only be removed by a dentist.

Crowns are used to restore teeth that have become decayed, damaged or discolored to an extent that other normal dental treatments cannot be used.

Bridges offer a way to replace missing teeth. They are called bridges because they span the gap created by missing teeth and are cemented to the natural teeth or to implants. Surrounding teeth help anchor the bridge in place.

Role of Crowns

Crowns can be used in many ways and dentists may recommend crowns for a variety of purposes:

As replacement of large fillings when there is insufficient remaining tooth

For restoring fractured teeth

To protect weak teeth from fracturing

For attaching a bridge

To cover a dental implant

For covering poorly shaped or discolored teeth

As cover for a tooth after root canal treatment

Role of Bridges

Your dentist may recommend a bridge to replace one or more missing teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth shift or rotate leading to a bad bite. In the long run, this may lead to gum disease when gums become irritated and infected. Sometimes, the imbalance due to missing teeth can lead to temporomandibular joint disorders, commonly referred to as TMJ disorders.

Additional information on Crowns and Bridges

When your dentist recommends a crown or a bridge, many questions will arise in your mind, about costs, procedures, materials and about taking care of the crown or the bridge. You can read more about crowns and bridges in Dental Crowns and Bridges FAQs on FreeDentistFinder.com

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