Crowns and Bridges

Forefront Dentistry, Tulsa OK

Crowns and bridges are both two-stage dental procedures which utilize a dental laboratory to fabricate the final dental restoration. Crowns can be described as porcelain coverings for teeth. Reasons for a tooth needing a crown would include tooth fracture or cracking, excessive tooth decay, a tooth that has been root canal treated, or a tooth with an existing failing dental restoration. The first stage in a crown appointment involves preparing the tooth by precisely reducing it down to allow room for the planned porcelain restoration. Once the preparation is completed, a laser treatment will be performed on the gums and an impression will be obtained for the dental laboratory to fabricate the custom-made final crown. A temporary crown will be made for the patient at that appointment to protect the tooth between visits. The second stage of the crown process involves removing the temporary crown, cleaning the tooth, and trying on the final crown. The doctor will make any needed adjustments to the crown, and once proper fit is confirmed, the final crown will be bonded into place.

The process involved for a bridge is very similar to that of a crown. The first stage involves preparing the support teeth for the planned bridge, performing a laser treatment on the gums, taking an impression for the dental laboratory, and making the patient a temporary bridge. The key difference is that a bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. The final bridge will be one connected restoration that not only covers the prepped teeth, but also replaces the missing tooth (or teeth), therefore, restoring the area to natural function and esthetics.