A crown
is a
permanent
covering
that
fits
over an
original
tooth
that is
either
decayed,
damaged
or
cracked.
Crowns
are made
of a
variety
of
different
materials
such as
porcelain,
gold,
acrylic
resin or
a mix of
these
materials.
Porcelain
generally
has the
most
natural
appearance,
although
it is
often
less
durable.
The
treatment
plan for
a
patient
receiving
a crown
involves:
-
Numbing
the
tooth
to
remove
the
decay
in
or
around
it.
-
Re-sculpturing
the
tooth
to
provide
an
ideal
fit
for
the
crown.
-
Making
an
impression
of
your
teeth
in
order
to
create
a
custom-made
crown
(usually
takes
one
to
two
weeks).
-
Making
a
temporary
crown
out
of
acrylic
resin
and
fitting
it
onto
the
tooth
during
the
interim
period
when
the
permanent
custom-made
crown
is
being
created.
-
Applying
the
permanent
crown
(when
received
from
the
lab)
by
removing
the
temporary
crown
and
fitting
the
permanent
one
onto
the
tooth.
-
After
ensuring
that
the
crown
has
the
proper
look
and
fit,
the
dentist
cements
it
into
place.
This
process
generally
consists
of a
minimum
of 2-3
visits
over a
three to
four
week
period.
Once the
procedure
is
completed,
proper
dental
hygiene,
including
daily
brushing
and
flossing,
is
required
to
maintain
healthy,
bacteria-free
teeth,
gums and
crowns.
This
helps in
the
prevention
of gum
disease.
Given
proper
care,
your
crowns
can last
a
lifetime.
A bridge
is a
dental
device
that
fills a
space
that a
tooth
previously
occupied.
A bridge
may be
necessary
to
prevent:
-
Shifting
of
the
teeth
that
can
lead
to
bite
problems
(occlusion)
and/or
jaw
problems
and
resultant
periodontal
disease.
-
Bridges
safeguard
the
integrity
of
existing
teeth
and
help
maintain
a
healthy,
vibrant
smile.
There
are
three
main
types of
bridges,
namely:
-
Fixed
bridge-
this
is
the
most
popular
and
consists
of a
filler
tooth
that
is
attached
to
two
crowns,
which
fit
over
the
existing
teeth
and
hold
the
bridge
in
place.
-
The
“Maryland”
bridge
is
commonly
used
to
replace
missing
front
teeth
and
consists
of a
filler
that
is
attached
to
metal
bands
that
are
bonded
to
the
abutment
teeth.
The
metal
bands
consist
of a
white-colored
composite
resin
that
matches
existing
tooth
color.
-
The
Cantilever
bridge
is
often
used
when
there
are
teeth
on
only
one
side
of
the
span.
A
typical
three-unit
cantilever
bridge
consists
of
two
crowned
teeth
positioned
next
to
each
other
on
the
same
side
of
the
missing
tooth
space.
The
filler
tooth
is
then
connected
to
the
two
crowned
teeth,
which
extend
into
the
missing
tooth
space
or
end.
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