Crowns & Bridges

A part of a feeble tooth sometimes breaks off. It occurs to the tooth that becomes vulnerable being weakened by a large filling or a fracture. A crown is used to repair such a tooth. A crown is an artificial material that replaces the damaged part of a tooth and recovers its function. It also restores the look and appearance of the damaged tooth.

Sometimes, one or more teeth fall off the gum due to an accident, decay or damage. The appeal and appearance of the face disappear due to the missing tooth or teeth. Biting and chewing food put stress on the rest of the teeth to perform the function of the lost tooth or teeth. The option to replace the missing tooth is a bridge. A bridge is an artificially made tooth and it is placed between two crowns that are permanently bonded to the teeth.

Procedures

The procedure for making and that for fitting a bridge or crown are quite similar. Both require the patient to visit the clinic of a dentist twice. On the first visit, the damaged part of a tooth is removed to prepare the place of fitting a crown. The doctor removes the one to two millimeters of a damaged tooth. Then, a crown is attached to the reduced part of the tooth.

In case of treating this dental problem with a bridge, a vivid picture is taken of the missing tooth to decide the shape and size of a bridge. Initially, the place of the lost tooth is filled with a temporary bridge until the permanent bridge is made and fitted. It is very important to have a bridge of the same size of the missing tooth so that it can perform the function well.

On the second visit, the dentist removes the temporary bridge or crown and cleans the area to fit the final bridge or crown. It takes the patient one-hour during the first meeting. The second visit to the doctor is shorter than the first one.

Risks

One of the risks of replacing the damaged or missing tooth in the mouth is breakage. Even if, a crown or bridge is made of a hard substance, chewing popcorn kernels, ice or olive pits can damage it. Initially after the treatment, the fitting of a crown or bridge remains loose and it becomes rigid in a few days. It is better to take soft or liquid food this time. It is usual that a new crown or bridge is mildly responsive to extreme temperatures for a few days at the post-treatment stage. In case of severe sensitivity or uncomfortable biting and chewing patients should consult the dentist.

Recovery

Recovery process are fast and short in treating the damaged tooth with a crown and replacing the missing tooth with a bridge. Patients feel normal and comfortable within one to two days after the treatment. As bridges may trap food, it is recommended to floss and brush after taking a meal. It is better to use a floss threader in order to keep the crown and bridge clean. Patients with healthy gum recover soon.