What Are Dental Crowns And Dental Bridges?
Damaged or missing teeth can rob you of your smile? If you have teeth that need replacing, consider looking into dental crowns and bridges. These are the most suitable ways to get your missing or broken teeth fixed, giving you your confidence in smiling back. Find out below what they are and their types.
What is a Dental Crown?
This is a cover or a cap that dentists usually put over a broken tooth. If your tooth was chipped or the enamel is broken, the dental crown will bring it back to its standard shape, size and function. Additionally, if you don't like your teeth look or are too tiny, leaving significant gaps between them, then a dental crown will help you improve their look and make them stronger.
Numerous reasons can drive you to get dental crowns; you can also cover up a discolored tooth giving you a beautiful smile. What are these dental crowns made of? They can be made of different healthy materials, metal alloys, porcelain infused with metal, ceramics, and composite resin. The materials are always colored appropriately to blend in well with the rest of your teeth.
What Is A Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is utilized to fill in the space created by missing teeth, which could be one or multiple missing teeth. It comprises false teeth having a crown on each end of the bridge. The crowns put on the existing teeth act as anchors to the bridge. Like dental crowns, bridges are made of materials like gold, alloys, porcelain, and more.
The function of a dental bridge is purposely to bridge the gap in your teeth, and the existing teeth usually support it.
Types of Dental Crowns
- Ceramic crowns; are typically utilized for the incisors and other front teeth since the material blends well with the natural color of teeth.
- Gold alloys; are made from a mixture of metals, and they don't wear out quickly.
- Porcelain fused metal; this is stronger than typical porcelain because of the added metal.
- Base metal alloys; are resistant to corrosion and are very strong.
Types of Dental Bridges
- Maryland bridge; is mixed up with metal or porcelain and held in place with resin.
- A Cantilever bridge; is mainly used when only one side of the gap has a tooth.
- Traditional dental bridges; are the most common bridges, and they use dental crowns on each side of the gap.
- Implant-supported bridge; this is usually used if there is more than one tooth missing, and they use dental implants for support.
If you struggle to cover your mouth when you laugh because your teeth are not looking nice, you need to visit your dentist and get a dental crown or bridge. Remember, it is best to consult with a professional dentist to know what is best for you and how best to achieve it.