Crowns & Bridges

What is a crown?

A dental crown can help in providing a healthy self-image to have better dental health. Dental crowns or dental caps repair your smile and make them strong and also enhance your appearance. You can restore the natural shape and size of the teeth. A dental crown acts as a cap for a tooth by covering an already existing tooth or placing over an implant post. The tooth-shaped cap fits like a glove and covers everything that’s above the gum line.

What is the use of dental crowns?

If you have a large filling and not enough tooth left to support the filling, then dental crowns can be used to strengthen your teeth. The dentist determines the best treatment for you to enhance your smile and also for your oral health. Dental crowns are usually used:

• For protecting the weak teeth 
• Restore the broken teeth 
• Cover the badly shaped or discolored teeth
• For preserving a dental implant

A crown can help in treating or correcting dental issues; in some cases, any additional dental work such as a root canal or filling is also recommended before the treatment, to prepare the teeth for dental crowns.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a small appliance in which there are two or more false teeth that fit in gaps created by your missing teeth. The false teeth, also known as pontics, are made of porcelain, gold, alloys, or a combination of the three.

The false teeth are anchored onto the teeth and are connected by a frame that surrounds the gap. The abutment teeth can be your own teeth or implants. The dentist can advise you about which type of implant might work best to hold your bridge in place.

How can you care for your dental bridges?

With the help of the following steps, it will be easy for you to care for your dental bridges:

• Eat soft foods until you get adjusted with the bridge.
• Maintain good oral hygiene.
• Brush at least twice and floss at least once a day.
• Use an antiseptic mouthwash once a day.
• Get the bridge regularly checked by your dentist as per the scheduled appointments.

Call us (760) 433-9255 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Schmidt for a consultation at our office in Vista, CA.