Crowns & Bridges

A crown (often called a cap) is a type of restoration that completely caps or covers the tooth and restores it to its original shape and size. Decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth and a highly accurate impression is made of the prepared tooth surface – either using mold material or a digital scanner. The majority of crowns are done with a scanner, which provides high precision and the convenience of making the crown while you wait. When a special touch of esthetics is desired, a mold is sent to a special laboratory that will create a crown. The crown is then cemented onto the prepared surface.

A bridge is another option to replace missing teeth. A bridge is a single appliance that is generally attached to two teeth on each side of the space where a tooth is missing. An artificial tooth attached in the middle of the bridge fills the gap where the missing tooth was. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for crowns and a highly accurate mold is made of the prepared area. The mold is then sent to a laboratory where the bridge is made. The bridge is then cemented to the prepared teeth. This will create the look of a new tooth.