Crowns
Crowns are a cosmetic restoration used to strengthen a tooth or improve its shape. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or partially destroyed by tooth decay.
Crowns are "cemented" or "bonded" onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth's new outer surface. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.
Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings which apply the restorative material directly into your mouth, a crown is fabricated away from your mouth. Your crown may be created in a single visit using our CEREC technology or created in a lab from your unique tooth impression which allows a dental laboratory technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements. Your crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw movements function normally once the crown is placed.
Bridges
A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth. It looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been.
A bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials and is cemented or bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. A "fixed" bridge is not removable. Besides replacing missing teeth, a bridge can help maintain the shape of your face and alleviate stress in your bite.
The success of any bridge depends on its foundation — the supporting teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it's very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong.