Dental Crowns and Bridges in Iowa City, IA

At Willow Creek Family Dentistry, dental crowns and bridges are both restorations designed to cover damaged teeth to restore function and aesthetics. A dental crown is used to restore a single tooth, while a dental bridge is used to restore multiple teeth in a row.

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is also known as a cap which is meant to fill in gaps where decay is present. It is also used to protect a tooth after root canal therapy. Dental crowns are made from porcelain, ceramic, resin, or metal and can last for 10 years or longer.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a device that is permanently cemented onto the patient’s teeth. The bridge is anchored to healthy teeth on either side of a gap, using the abutment process. Dental bridges span the gap and fill in the missing tooth, allowing for proper chewing and speaking.

What Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Made Of?

Dental crowns can be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. They can be all metal or a combination. Gold is the strongest material, but porcelain looks the most natural.

Dental bridges can be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. Porcelain is the most popular choice, as it has the nicest look and is the strongest.

What Are the Advantages of Dental Crown and Bridges?

Prevents Further Damage

When a tooth becomes cracked or damaged, there’s often a risk of further damage to the tooth, including the need for a root canal. By placing a dental crown over the tooth, this risk is eliminated.

It’s possible for the crack to completely cause the tooth to break, which may result in the need for an extraction. Bridges are a treatment option to replace many missing teeth in a row, and these bridges are attached to the natural teeth on either side of the space.

Easy to Maintain

A dental crown or bridge only needs to be flossed, brushed, and rinsed regularly. This routine care is simple and quick, enabling you to keep your smile healthy.

Boosts Oral Health

Both dental crowns and bridges are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented into place, making them strong and unlikely to slip. This means that they don’t require any special care beyond a good oral hygiene routine.

Crowns and bridges can prevent teeth from shifting, which can prevent further decay and gum disease. When teeth are properly aligned, plaque can be more efficiently removed from the surface of your teeth. This can reduce your risk of dental problems and the need for invasive procedures in the future.

Looks and Functions like Real Teeth

Like many dental restorations, dental crowns and bridges are custom-crafted using strong, tooth-colored materials, so they blend right in with your smile. It’s difficult to tell the difference between crowns and real teeth.

Improves Speech

When a tooth has been compromised by decay or trauma, it’s common for the tooth to be less functional. This can mean different things, from difficulty chewing to unclear speech. A dental crown or bridge can restore your bite function and allow you to speak once again.

To discover more about dental crowns and bridges, visit Willow Creek Family Dentistry at 2346 Mormon Trek Blvd, Suite 2600, Iowa City, IA 52246, or call dentist Iowa City, IA at (319) 339-4456.