The Differences Between Dental Crowns & Dental Bridges
Both bridges and crowns are natural-looking tooth replacement options that dentists use to help restore the oral health of patients that are missing one or more teeth.
Dental crowns and bridges are often used together. A bridge generally consists of a tooth replacement in the middle and two crowns at either side, that literally bridge the gap of missing teeth. This is effective if the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are healthy enough to support a bridge.
Crowns
Dental crowns help restore the appearance and strength of a tooth by capping the surface of a tooth. They are able to protect teeth that are weak, restore broken teeth, secure dental bridges, and cover teeth that are discoloured or misshapen. Crowns could be crafted from porcelain and metal, stainless steel, metal (such as gold), resin, or ceramic.
Bridges
Bridges are dental appliances that incorporate crowns and artificial teeth. They help to stabilize surrounding teeth, ensuring they don't shift out of place and fill the gap of missing teeth.
Benefits
- They make speaking and eating easier
- Dental crowns and bridges help support facial tissue
- They can renew your confidence when smiling with a more uniform appearance
- They prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth, improving the long-term health of your mouth
Placing Crowns & Bridges
Your dentist will prepare healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. This involves filing them to the shapes and sizes required to allow for the crowns to be placed.
Placing a dental bridge is not surgical, and patients are awake during the procedure. However, if you suffer from dental anxiety, your dentist may offer techniques to reduce your fear or suggest dental sedation as a way to help you relax. Speak to your dentist to see if this is a solution for you.
In order to make sure the bridge will fit your mouth properly your dentist will make imprints and measure the neighboring teeth. Sometimes, they will place a temporary crown that will later be removed when it's time to place the permanent one.
Your dentist will numb the area receiving the crowns and bridge by using local anesthesia. The bridge will then be cemented in place.
In a situation where a patient is missing multiple teeth or has teeth that can't support a bridge, the bridge may be anchored to dental implants. Your dentist will be able to explain to you the options that will work best for you.
What You Can Expect
Recovery time is quite short, with most people adapting to their new replacement teeth immediately.
Crowns and bridges need to be brushed and flossed daily, just like natural teeth. They are quite durable and can withstand normal use such as biting and chewing. If you take proper care of them, they should last about 10 years, making crowns and bridges a great long-term solution for missing teeth.