If you have a tooth that is compromised, worn away, broken, missing, or simply can’t function well anymore, proper restoration can go a long way to restoring your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. In North Bethesda, MD, at Prostho Endo Dental Group, you receive crown and bridge work done with the knowledge, experience, and skill of a restorative dentist, and the eye and hand skill of an artist. Our patients receive treatment that has been thoughtfully planned and executed for the best possible outcome, for both health and aesthetics, and for long-term function. If you need a tooth restored or missing teeth replaced, we will treat your case with a focus on your bite, facial aesthetics, smile, and overall function.
Crown & Bridge Restorations
Crowns and bridges are more than just “putting a cap on a tooth.” Crowns should not only protect the tooth they go on, but also should look and feel like normal teeth. Bridges should replace missing teeth in a way that they feel and function properly, and do so while being comfortable to wear.
At Prostho Endo Dental Group, both crowns and bridges are designed with the best possible outcome in mind, with both appearance and functionality in mind. Not only should the crown or bridge fit properly on your teeth and fit into your bite, but it should also feel like a natural part of your smile. In other words, when done correctly, you shouldn’t notice them when you speak or smile.
A crown is typically used on teeth that are so damaged that a regular filling just won’t be able to restore the strength or durability of the tooth to make it functional in your bite. This may mean fractured teeth, or teeth that have had large fillings, or have worn down, or have teeth that have had root canal treatment on them before. The crown goes over and helps to protect and support the remaining tooth so that it may function.
Crowns require more precision to do than a filling, as they need to rest as smoothly on the edges of your teeth and gums. Your teeth and bite are properly checked prior to crown work. Depending on the tooth, x-rays will also be taken to evaluate the state of the roots of the tooth and the surrounding bone. Once this is done, a crown will be designed to support the tooth as best as possible and will be more comfortable to bite on than the previous tooth.
If you have one or more missing teeth, they can usually be replaced with a bridge. A dental bridge works by connecting crowns that replace missing teeth to either side to the natural teeth on both sides of the missing tooth or teeth. In place of a removable bridge or a false tooth that you remove, a bridge allows you to speak and eat much more easily, as it sits more comfortably and stays in place better.
Not only do missing teeth leave a gap in your smile, but they also cause the teeth on each side of the gap to shift, which can also lead to shifting in the bite and can lead to uneven biting forces as you eat. In place of a bridge, a dental implant is often recommended. However, if you cannot or have not yet considered getting a dental implant, we can often still help restore your bite with a bridge.
At Prostho Endo Dental Group, our crown and bridge work stands apart from many other dental clinics in our quality of care. Crown and bridge work involves not only choosing a crown that looks good, but also designing a tooth that fits your smile, fits your bite, fits your remaining teeth, and allows you to eat comfortably. Our in-house lab means that we can more closely control the details and fit of your crown and bridge.
For example, if you have a crown in, you’ll be able to better evaluate the shape of the tooth, how it fits with other teeth, and how they all feel when you bite together. This type of interaction helps produce restorations that are not only more long-lasting but also have higher quality finishes.
Digital Workflows For Improved Accuracy
Digital dentistry also allows crown and bridge treatments to be performed with greater efficiency, accuracy, and comfort. Instead of relying on the patient to provide impressions of the teeth and bite, digital tools can be used to take highly detailed impressions that are far more accurate. These impressions make it possible to improve the fit of restorations.
In addition, digital tools make it easier to take detailed images to ensure that the bite is adjusted properly. After all, a restoration needs to fit well with the way your teeth fit together to be functional and comfortable. This is why Prostho Endo Dental Group uses digital tools and techniques whenever possible to produce crown and bridge restorations that fit with greater accuracy.
Long-Term Function & Durability
Crown and bridge restorations need to last. While they are typically meant to treat an immediate concern, they are generally not intended to be temporary. This is why it is important that your crown or bridge is functional, looks natural, and is made to last. The quality of the material that is used to make a restoration will have an impact on its durability. In addition, restorations need to be well-fitted to the tooth, and they need to fit well with the way the patient’s bite functions.
In addition to choosing the right material and producing restorations that fit with a high level of precision, the dental team will educate patients on how to care for their restorations. Patients are urged to maintain a daily home care routine that includes tooth brushing and flossing, as well as regular visits to their dentists for professional cleanings and exams. They will also determine if a mouthguard will be necessary to protect a patient’s teeth from bruxism or other habits that can put extra stress on restorations.
Matching Restorations To Natural Teeth
The final crown or bridge should look as natural as possible. This is especially true of restorations for the front teeth, where a restoration will most likely be visible to others when a patient smiles. All of the details that help a natural tooth look like a natural tooth will be incorporated into the restoration, including its shade, its texture, its translucency, and the size and shape of the individual tooth. All of these features are important to making the final restoration blend with existing teeth so that the restoration doesn’t stand out.
The team will take all of the above considerations into account before producing any restorations so they match the patient’s tooth shade, the patient’s smile line, and the surrounding teeth. While it is true that the function of the restoration is important, the team also strives to ensure that the final result looks great when a patient’s smile is evaluated from all angles.
Protecting Oral Health Through Restorative Care
A dental restoration can be an important part of a comprehensive plan to improve oral health. A damaged tooth that is left alone may continue to break down, potentially leading to the need for more complex treatment. A patient with a missing tooth may also be at risk for more serious oral health issues because their teeth may become damaged, they may no longer be able to comfortably chew, and they may even shift their remaining teeth to fill the gap. This is why restorative work plays an important role in preventing further issues that may cause a patient to need additional, more complex treatment.
The team takes time with every restorative treatment plan to make sure that it is not only going to treat the immediate concern, but also to protect the rest of a patient’s oral health from further complications and damage.
Choose Prostho Endo Dental Group For Crown & Bridge Work
Crown and bridge dentistry has to be performed carefully to be both functional and long-lasting. A poorly-fitting restoration or a restorative that does not look natural will likely be uncomfortable and may also break down over time. For patients in the North Bethesda, MD area, Prostho Endo Dental Group can help ensure that your crown and bridge restoration is performed properly.
Whether the treatment will involve adding a crown to a single tooth or adding a bridge to replace multiple missing teeth, your dental team will explain how these types of restorations function and can help you decide which option is best for you.