Teeth with lost fillings, cracks, or decay are the main reasons a patient needs a dental crown. If a tooth is missing, severely decayed, broken, or in some way unstable enough for a crown, a bridge is necessary. A bridge closes up the gap between teeth. Patients often want to know if a dental crown or bridge is the best choice. This question comes up because both of these alternatives are expensive and produce a little anxiety over pain. Lovett Dental Northside offers a wide array of dental services, including crowns and bridges. We want to be your dentist of choice.

Dental Crownsdiagram shows the process of implementing dental crowns and bridges

A dental crown is simply a cover or cap applied to the tooth to restore it to its original condition. The dentist will create a mold of the area and then cement it to the problem tooth. The crown is made as a replica of an actual tooth with the same shape, size, and look. Although most people want a false tooth to look real, there are several materials to choose from, such as metal, porcelain, and ceramic. A crown extends the life of the tooth by protecting an at-risk tooth.

Why Is A Crown Necessary?

In some cases, a filling will suffice. However, circumstances such as the following will always require a crown:

  • If a tooth gets cracked, it will not heal as a broken bone does. This unfortunate situation means that the patient will eventually experience pain, the tooth will deteriorate, and the ability to chew correctly will be affected. Just like a crack in a windshield, the break in a tooth can spread and move into the gumline. If left untreated, a crack that extends to the gumline will result in a root canal.
  • A tooth filling over 2/3 of the surface is in danger of further decay and possible loss. A large filling is vulnerable to breaking off. For this reason, a dentist will often recommend a crown rather than a filling for a large amount of tooth decay.
  • If a filling falls out without being replaced, it causes further corrosion. The hole left from a filling is prone to catch food and build up plaque. Patients with tooth decay will also have bad breath, which isn’t pleasant either.

Dental Bridges

A missing tooth or badly decayed tooth can make eating, smiling, and talking uncomfortable. The teeth shape everyone’s facial structure. When there is extra space from a missing tooth, the other teeth will shift, causing discomfort, affecting the bite, and even changing the face’s shape. Dental bridges will help to avoid this shift and restore the natural look of the teeth.

What Is A Bridge?

To install a bridge, the dentist shapes a false tooth to replace the missing tooth. A metal bridge is then attached to each of the healthy teeth on either side to maintain the false tooth’s integrity. If the missing tooth is a back molar and does not have a tooth on either side, the dentist can use a different type of bridge called a cantilever bridge. It may be necessary to have a dental implant placed in the mouth for a bridge to work correctly in some situations.

Our expert staff wants to make your visit to our office as calm, relaxing, and comfortable as possible at Lovett Dental Northside. We understand that dental anxiety is a real thing and strive to help our patients deal with this fear. We provide dental sedation to put your mind at ease to get the care necessary to have a healthy, beautiful smile. Call us today at 713-691-5551, or contact us online to make an appointment for your dental crown or bridge.