Crowns and Bridges Back
: If you’re struggling with a tooth that’s injured, infected, or even lost altogether, you may need the support of a custom restoration to regain your smile’s function and beautiful appearance. At Four Corners Family Dentistry, our doctors will be happy to design and place a new crown and/or bridge that fit right in alongside your healthy dental structure. Most crowns and bridges are fixed prosthetic devices which are cemented to the existing teeth or implants. Contact our Maple Valley practice if you have any questions for our staff, or if you’re ready to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Manpreet Dhaliwal or Dr. Christine Tran.
Dental Crowns: A crown’s purpose is to effectively “cap” off the entire visible structure of a single natural tooth, providing valuable support and restoration of its natural shape. There are a variety of reasons why our team may recommend the placement of a dental crown, including the following:
- A tooth is heavily decayed and can no longer be treated with a mercury-free filling
- A tooth has suffered a serious injury and there is a possibility of fracture
- A tooth is suffering from cosmetic imperfections, such as an abnormal shape or discolouration
- A tooth previously treated with root canal therapy is in need of restoration
- Attach a bridge
- Replace a large filling where there isn’t enough tooth left
Dental crowns typically require two appointments to complete. During your first visit here in Maple Valley Dental Clinic, our doctors will carefully reshape the treated tooth to prepare it for the addition and take impressions before placing a temporary crown. Then, once we’ve received your new, permanent restoration from the dental laboratory, you’ll be invited back for the final placement.
Dental Bridges: If a patient has lost one or more teeth, dental bridges might be the treatment recommended. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease. A dental bridge can replace the needed structure in a durable and sturdy fashion. This prosthetic is attached in place with the help of two dental crowns, which are designed to fit over adjacent teeth as “anchors.” Many patients prefer the permanence of a custom dental bridge to the looseness of a removable denture. Like dental crowns, a new bridge will typically require two appointments to complete here at Maple Valley Dental Clinic.
