Natural-Looking Restorations
A damaged tooth can affect your everyday life. These changes can change the way your smile looks, limit your choices in food, impair the way you speak. With all of these lifestyle differences, your self-confidence may begin to dwindle.
But you don’t have to live like this. Whether you’ve suffered a dental trauma, or severe tooth decay, a seamlessly beautiful dental crown can cover your natural tooth to reinforce the strength and beauty of your smile. We can also use a crown to complete your dental implant procedure.
Dental Crowns
Crowns are caps that fit over the top of your natural tooth to protect and strengthen it. They come in a variety of materials, including porcelain, metal (porcelain fused to metal), or ceramics. Crowns containing metal are reliable and strong, but they can be less attractive.
The Dental Crown Process
If Dr. Cederbaum determines that a crown fits your needs, she’ll discuss what type of crown you’d like and explain the benefits of each type. Once you choose, the process can begin. The dental crown procedure is simple and can be completed in a few steps, including:
She’ll have to reshape your tooth slightly in order for the crown to fit over the top of it. Only a small amount of enamel has to be taken off for this and won’t put your tooth at risk. If you’re uncomfortable with this procedure, she can provide sedation so you can relax.
The next step of the process is for Dr. Cederbaum to take an impression of your tooth so the crown can be customized for it. But don’t worry — with her iTero® Intraoral Scanner, she can wave a wand over your teeth to quickly take a 3D scan of your teeth, no putty or mess required.
These scans will be sent to the laboratory where your permanent crown will be created. Once it’s complete, your new crown will be placed with a dental adhesive.
Are You a Candidate?
Our patients choose crowns for various reasons, including:
- Protecting a tooth that has been cracked or broken accidentally
- Strengthening a tooth that had a large cavity
- Supporting a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth
- Restoring a tooth following root canal therapy
- Improving the appearance of a misshapen or malformed tooth
FAQs About Crowns
Can I whiten a dental crown?
No, a dental crown cannot be whitened. Crowns are resistant to staining, but that means they’re also resistant to whitening agents. If you wish to have your teeth whitened, we offer whitening treatments in-office and for take-home use.
What are my options if my crown has been damaged?
In the case that your crown has been damaged, you should call our office at (206) 524-1314 as soon as possible. Dr. Cederbaum may be able to repair or replace your crown after an examination of its state.
Can I replace gold or metal crowns with a porcelain crown?
If you wish to have your gold or metal crowns replaced with a more attractive crown, Dr. Cederbaum can help. Though crowns shouldn’t be removed too often, she can improve the appearance of your smile in this case.
Dental Bridges
If you’re missing one or more teeth, dental bridges may be able to improve the appearance and function of your smile. A dental bridge consists of prosthetic teeth supported and strengthened by their attachment to crowns over the natural teeth, referred to as abutment teeth, on either side of the gap.
Dental Bridges vs Dental Implants
Dental bridges are currently the most popular form of tooth replacement for multiple teeth. Multiple individual dental implants could also be used to fill these spaces but for some people, dental bridges are recommended because they lessen the strain on that area of your mouth.
If you grind or clench your teeth, this may cause a dental implant to loosen and come out. Bridges spread the impact across a wider area, so the won’t be in as much danger.
The Dental Bridge Process
In order for your bridge to be placed, you’ll need to get two dental crowns. The dental crown process, as described above, will be the same for those teeth. While your permanent bridge is being made, you’ll receive a temporary bridge so you won’t have to live without teeth.
When your permanent bridge is ready, you’ll return to our office so Dr. Cederbaum can place it.
Repairing Your Dental Bridge
If you’ve noticed something wrong with your dental bridge, contact our office by calling (206) 524-1314 so we can help you. Depending on the issue, Dr. Cederbaum may be able to repair your bridge.
In the case that the porcelain coating on your bridge is cracked or chipped, this can be easily fixed. But if there’s an issue with one of your abutment teeth, the bridge will likely need to be replaced.
FAQs About Bridges
Are dental bridges covered by insurance?
Most dental insurance companies cover part of the cost of a bridge. Contact your dental insurance company to check on their policies.
Are dental bridges safe?
Yes, dental bridges are safe. They protect and strengthen your smile.
What’s the difference between a temporary and permanent dental bridge?
Your temporary bridge will be given to you after your teeth have been prepared, while you wait for your permanent bridge to be created.
How long does a dental bridge last?
Dental bridges can last anywhere from five to 15 years, depending on how well you take care of your oral hygiene. Coming to our office for regular dental cleanings can help them to last longer, too.
Your Smile Can Be Restored
You don’t have to live with damaged or missing teeth. Not only do these factors affect your life now, but they’ll also affect your life in the future. These conditions make your oral health more susceptible to decline, causing you pain and additional treatment costs.
Dr. Cederbaum can help to restore your smile and protect your health. Learn more by calling our office at (206) 524-1314. You can also fill out our convenient contact form, available at the bottom of the page. We’ll get back to you right away.