What is a crown?
A crown is a cap that fits over your existing tooth to protect it from further damage. The crown is designed to fit in with your natural teeth in every way possible, from both a functional and aesthetic perspective. There are many reasons why you’d need a crown, including:
- To protect a tooth that can no longer hold a filling
- To prevent a weak tooth from fracturing
- To cover a tooth after a root canal procedure
- To cover a dental implant
- To cover a tooth that’s severely damaged or discolored
- To provide anchors for bridges.
What is a bridge?
Dr. Geller uses bridges to replace a missing tooth, or missing teeth, to maintain your overall dental health and function. There are four types of bridges:
- Traditional bridge: The pontics (or prosthetic teeth) are held in place by anchoring them to crowns or implants on both sides of the gap
- Cantilever bridge: For cases where natural teeth or abutments can anchor only one side of the bridge
- Maryland bridge: This bridge is constructed with a framework that attaches to the backs of your teeth on either side of the gap without disrupting the anchor teeth
- Implant-supported bridge: A bridge that’s anchored by dental implants — one implant per missing tooth
When it comes time to choose an option, Dr. Geller sits down with you to review which type of bridge is appropriate for your situation.
How are crowns and bridges made?
Geller Family Dental uses the latest imaging equipment, including an intraoral scanner, which eliminates the need for messy and potentially inaccurate impressions.
Using the scanner, Dr. Geller can get a full view of your problem during your first visit and, with sophisticated software, comes up with the ideal solution. He then sends these images to a lab that manufactures your customized crowns or bridges. They're designed to match your alignment and coloring for a seamless fit.
The best part of the state-of-the-art technology is that crowns and bridges only require two visits for installation. During your second visit, Dr. Geller cements the crown or bridge in place and ensures that it fits in snugly with the rest of your teeth.
To learn more about the role of crowns and bridges in your dental health, call Geller Family Dental, or book an appointment online.
