Louisville Crowns & Bridges

Dental crowns are small cap-like structures that fit over existing teeth. They are used to restore damaged or weakened teeth back to a healthy state, both in application and appearance. Although crowns can be made of a variety of materials, such as metal, acrylics, and resins, they are usually made out of porcelain over a metal base. If you have a tooth that is cracked or chipped badly, a crown may be the recommended restorative dental treatment. They are also recommended when a tooth is weakened, especially by a large filling. Crowns provide protection and strength for teeth that otherwise would eventually end up being lost.

When a tooth is missing and there are teeth on either side of the open space, a bridge is often recommended. A bridge consists of two crowns – one for each abutment tooth – attached to a pontic or fake tooth to replace the missing tooth. Sometimes more than one pontic is used depending on the space. Bridges serve an important purpose in addition to making your smile look nicer. When a tooth is missing, the neighboring teeth slowly move out of alignment. They can tip and turn throwing off your natural bite. The opposing tooth on the top or bottom also shifts since it has no surface to rest on. This can cause the part of root of the tooth to become exposed as it moves downward or upward. A bridge will prevent these changes from happening. It fills in the blank space and keeps associated teeth from moving out of position.

Cosmetic Dental Crowns

Crowns and bridges serve critical purposes as far as dental health go. They are also cosmetically appealing. Crowns are made to look like your natural teeth and often people cannot tell that you have a crown at all. When back teeth have a filling that covers three surfaces, the tooth loses its integrity and a silver filling while sturdy enough to last years, just isn’t that nice to look at. A crown protects the tooth and gives you a nicer look. On anterior teeth for large chips or cracks, even though bonding may do the job, a crown will most likely last longer and give you better service.

Our Louisville dentist, Dr. Tran at Springhurst Hills Dentistry, will be glad to sit down with you and discuss the prospects of improving your smile and protecting weak or damaged teeth with crowns. Contact our practice today to set up an appointment.