Dr. Jee Lee and Dr. Yong Kim may recommend dental crowns and bridges to help you regain a healthy, beautiful and fully functional smile. These restorative treatments are great options for restoring damaged teeth and replacing missing teeth so you can once again smile, speak and eat with confidence.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are custom-made restorative caps that cover and protect damaged or weakened teeth. They are crafted from various materials such as porcelain, metal or a combination of these materials, offering both strength and aesthetic appeal. Crowns are recommended when a tooth is extensively decayed, cracked or discolored beyond the point of repair with fillings. By encapsulating the affected tooth, crowns restore its shape, function and appearance. If you receive this treatment, our dentists will carefully shape the tooth to accommodate the crown, take impressions and then design a crown that fits seamlessly into your bite. Once the crown is ready, it will be cemented onto the prepared tooth, providing durable protection and a natural look.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges serve as reliable solutions for replacing missing teeth. These restorations consist of artificial teeth, known as pontics, anchored by crowns on adjacent natural teeth or on dental implants. Bridges are beneficial not only for restoring smiles but also for maintaining proper oral function and preventing adjacent teeth from shifting due to the gap. Like crowns, bridges are customized to match the color and shape of surrounding teeth, ensuring a harmonious appearance. Our dentists will prepare the supporting teeth for crowns, take impressions and then design the bridge accordingly. Once the bridge is ready, it is cemented in place, providing a strong, functional and aesthetic tooth replacement option.
Benefits of Crowns & Bridges
Benefits of crowns and bridges include:
- Restoration of your oral function
- Improved aesthetics for your smile.
- Preservation of your bite and tooth alignment
- Durability
- Protection and reinforcement for your teeth
- A highly versatile treatment
- Improved speech
- A solution that is effective and fairly quick to complete
- A tailor-made solution that fits your smile perfectly
How Long Do Crowns & Bridges Take To Complete?
The time it takes to complete dental crowns and bridges varies based on several factors. Most crowns and bridges can be completed in two dental appointments. During your initial visit, our dentists will assess the condition of the tooth or teeth, prepare them by shaping and removing any decay and take impressions. Temporary crowns or bridges may be placed to protect the prepared teeth. The impressions are sent to a dental lab where skilled technicians craft the final restorations, which usually takes a couple of weeks.
In the subsequent appointment, the temporary restoration is removed, and the custom-made crown or bridge is carefully fitted and adjusted for optimal comfort and bite alignment. Once you and our dentists are satisfied with the fit, the permanent restoration is permanently affixed using dental cement. You can then leave our office with restored functionality and aesthetics.
Schedule Your Consultation
For more information about dental crowns and bridges in Anaheim, California, or to schedule a consultation with our dentists, contact Dental Group of Anaheim today at 714-635-5500.