Am I a Candidate for Crowns or Bridges?

By Joseph R. Hendrick, Jr., DDS, PA

February 26, 2016

Tags: crowns Bridges

A broken or missing tooth, even if it does not hurt, can cause a myriad of problems or even tooth loss. However, restorative dental care can help you replace your missing teeth and strengthen or repair a broken or weakened tooth. With help from your Shelby, NC dentist Dr. Joseph R. Hendrick, Jr., DDS, you can rejuvenate your smile with crowns and bridges. Bridges

What are crowns?
Crowns are a tooth-shaped, cap-like restoration fitted over a damaged tooth to stabilize and strengthen it. Crowns, usually made from porcelain and are non-removable and permanent. They are fabricated in a dental laboratory by a lab technician and customized to match your surrounding teeth, ensuring the most natural look possible. Crowns are most often used for the following reasons:

to protect a weakened tooth
to attach a bridge
to improve the appearance of a discolored or misshapen tooth
to protect a tooth after root canal therapy
to protect a tooth with a large filling

What are bridges?
Unlike crowns, permanent bridges replace a missing tooth. A bridge does, however, use crowns on either side of the prosthetic tooth to anchor the restoration into place. Removable bridges attach to the teeth surrounding a gap using metal clasps. Bridges correct bite issues and bone loss caused by a missing tooth and prevent the remaining teeth from moving to compensate for a gap.

Am I a candidate for crowns or bridges?
If you have a tooth which has been weakened by trauma, decay or other dental procedures, you would benefit from a crown. Additionally, if you have an unsightly tooth which you would like to see replaced, a crown can revive your smile. If you are missing a tooth and have two healthy teeth surrounding the gap, a bridge is best for you. Good candidates for these procedures are in good general and dental health and are able to undergo dental procedures without further problems. It is necessary for Shelby patients to have a strong at-home oral care routine as it is important to keep these dental restorations healthy and clean to maximize their lifetimes.

For more information on crowns or bridges, please contact Dr. Joseph R. Hendrick, Jr., DDS in Shelby, NC. Call (704) 484-0077 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Hendrick today!

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