At Gainesville Family Dentistry we offer Crown and Bridge treatment.

Crowns are dental restorations otherwise known as “caps” which are coverings that fit over teeth. It may become necessary to crown a tooth because of a broken down old filling, fractured, chipped, or sensitive tooth structure.

Crowns are also used to improve the appearance of teeth that are malpositioned, malformed or discolored.

Here are some situations in which a crown may be indicated:

• A previously filled tooth which has more filling than tooth structure left.  The existing tooth structure becomes weakened and can no longer support the filling.
• Extensive damage by decay.
• Discolorations and compromised esthetics
• Root Canal – After a root canal teeth become more brittle and are likely to fracture.  These teeth need to be protected by a crown.
• When a missing tooth is replaced by a crown, the adjacent teeth need to have crowns to support the replacement tooth. This structure is called a fixed bridge.

Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your teeth. Crowns can be made from different materials which include porcelain, porcelain fused-to-metal and the all-metal structures. You and your dentist can decide which type is appropriate depending upon strength requirements and esthetic concerns of the tooth involved.

Fitting a crown requires at least two appointments. During your first visit,the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression or mold is made of the tooth, and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth.  At the next visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted, adjusted, and cemented into place.

Bridges

A dental bridge is a false tooth known as a pontic which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill the area left by the missing tooth.  The two teeth adjacent to the missing space are also crowned (called abutments).  This is called a fixed bridge.  It is used to replace one or more missing teeth.   Unlike removable partial dentures which are removed from the mouth periodically, a fixed bridge cannot be taken out of your mouth.

Thus a bridge is custom made to fill in the space with a false tooth.   Moulds are taken after the adjacent teeth are prepared for crowns and it is sent to the dental lab.  A dental technician makes a bridge with the mould provided.  A temporary bridge is placed in the patient's mouth and on subsequent appointment the final bridge is tried in, adjusted and cemented in the mouth.  Like a crown, a bridge can be made of metal, porcelain or both.

Please click on any of the services to the right to learn more about them.