Crowns and Bridges

A tooth can sometimes become so severely damaged due to decay, cracked teeth or trauma that the area is too large to restore with a traditional filling. Such cases may call for a dental crown or the use of a bridge when teeth exist on either side of the space.

A dental crown, sometimes called a cap, completely covers a damaged tooth. It is cemented into place and serves as a strong, solid and good-looking replacement for a natural tooth.

 

The crown replicates the shape, size and position of your damaged tooth. Reasons for a dental crown:

• Replace a large filling that no longer has enough tooth structure to continue to fill the cavity
• Protect a weak tooth from further chipping, breaking or fracturing.
• Restore a fractured / cracked tooth
• Cover a poorly shaped tooth or discolored tooth
• Attaching a dental bridge
• Protect and restore a tooth that has had a root canal
• Cover a dental implant

Thanks to a dental crown, your tooth will be stronger and more stable, last longer and look better, and you’ll feel better too. As with tooth cavity filling materials, many types of dental crown materials are available.

• Stainless steel
• Temporary
• All ceramic or porcelain
• Metal 
• Porcelain fused to metal

Dental Bridges

As with crowns, bridges are made of several different types of materials: gold, alloy, porcelain or a combination of them all. Material selection is based on your existing dentition, the area of the mouth to be restored and the type of bridge that will be used. 

One way to take care of a gap caused by a missing tooth is with a dental bridge placed at Rasmussen Dental. Removable dental bridges, also called partial dentures, can be removed and cleaned like dentures. Permanent dental bridges are sometimes called fixed partial dentures. 

A dental bridge literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth used to be. Bridges are cemented to the teeth adjacent to the empty space and the adjacent teeth, called abutments, serve as the anchors for the bridge. The adjacent teeth are trimmed down and capped with a crown, then a replacement tooth is attached to those crowns to form the bridge. The unit is securely cemented to your teeth, improving your smile and ability to chew food.

Bridges help you:

• Prevent remaining teeth from shifting out of position and into the gap
• Restore the ability to chew and speak properly
• Distribute the forces in your bite to alleviate stress on other teeth
• Maintain the shape of your face, preventing lip or face collapse

Types of Dental Bridges

• Cantilever
• Implant-supported dental
• Maryland bonded
• Traditional