There is a relationship between a healthy body and a healthy mouth. Often when people are missing teeth, they end up getting restorations with crowns and bridges. Brightwork Family Dentistry is a leading provider of crowns and bridges in Richmond, helping patients restore missing teeth promoting an aesthetically appealing smile.
Crowns
Crowns usually restore the morphology and function of a tooth while protecting the remaining structure. These dental restorations replace severely broken teeth, improve tooth wear, a large central diastema, severe tetracycline staining as a retainer for the bridge, or hereditary dental conditions such as peg-shaped upper lateral incisors.
Crowns are usually classified according to:
1. Coverage area
Crowns can provide:
· Complete coverage: These crowns are also known as full veneers and usually cover the entire coronal portion of a tooth’s crown.
· Partial coverage: These are partial veneers and cover a portion of the crown of a tooth.
· Complete replacement: These crowns require an extended post in the jaw bone.
2. Materials
Crowns are made of:
· Metal crowns, for example, gold alloy.
· Nonmetal crowns, like acrylic resin or porcelain.
· A combination of materials, usually metal and plastic, for example, porcelain fused in metal.
Bridges
These replacements are also known as fixed partial dentures. Your oral care provider will install this fixed prosthesis and is the only one that can remove them. Bridges replace missing teeth between two or more teeth. It is usually a two-step process that takes about two weeks. During the first appointment, your doctor will prep the teeth. The second appointment involves cementing the bridge.
A bridge is usually made up of:
· Retainer: The part that seats on or in the abutment tooth, for example, a crown.
· Pontic: A suspended member of fixed partial denture that occupies the position of the missing natural tooth.
· Connector: Connects different parts of the bridge (retainer & pontics). Connectors are fixed (rigid): Attach primary retainers or movable (flexible): Attach minor retainers.
· Abutment tooth: is the natural tooth to which a retainer is cemented. An abutment tooth supports a bridge.
Steps to care for restored teeth
The mouth is a very dynamic place, and how you care for your restorations will make a significant difference in their longevity. Some of the ways you can take care of your crowns and bridges include:
· Obtain a professional dental exam at least every six months.
· Follow the dentist-recommended at-home maintenance protocol that is specific to your situation.
· Brush your teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste and rinse your mouth with a mouthwash once a day.
· Floss at least once daily
· Wear a nightguard if recommended by your dentist.
· Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
· Do not consume foods with high sugar, which are generally bad for your health.
People who follow maintenance programs usually do very well, while those who do not follow maintenance guidelines have a 90% chance of losing their crowns or bridges over fifteen years. The biggest takeaway for patients to consider when maintaining their crowns and bridges is to be in an active partnership with their dentist. To learn more about crowns and bridges, contact Brightwork Family Dentistry and determine the treatment option that best suits your dental situation.
