Do you have a chipped or broken tooth? Maybe a large cavity? Perhaps the damage is so severe that you’re thinking of having the tooth removed altogether?
Fortunately, there are restorative options to assist you. Our Mill Park crowns and bridges help you look and feel whole again, without detracting from the natural beauty of your smile.
What’s the Difference?
Dental crowns (sometimes called “caps”) are used to cover teeth that have significant structural damage. Rather than placing a large filling inside of a compromised shell of enamel, a crown covers and protects the tooth so that you can keep biting and chewing without the fear of your tooth cracking in half.
On the other hand, bridges are used to fill in the gap caused by missing teeth. We use them to span the space between two teeth when the one (or two) between them is gone. Bridges can also be made to replace up to three or four teeth at a time if we’re using a pair of dental implants to support it.
Which One Is Right for You?
When possible, it’s usually best to try to preserve your natural tooth rather than immediately proceed to have it pulled. Of course, that’s not always possible. But if it is, a crown is usually your best solution.
If there’s not enough tooth structure capable of supporting a crown or the infection is severe enough, then it can be beneficial to go ahead and have your tooth extracted. It’s at that point where we would want to discuss moving forward with getting a dental bridge (or another tooth replacement, such as a dental implant).
With great care and maintenance, your smile — and the crowns and bridges you have — can last for years.
Schedule a check and clean today to ensure that your oral health is on the right track.