What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a restoration that completely covers or "caps" a weak or damaged tooth, restoring its form and function. At Celes Dental Studio, we offer the latest crown materials, including zirconia and E-max.
- Zirconia: Zirconia is a biocompatible, tooth-colored material known for its exceptional strength and durability. It can withstand the pressures of chewing and grinding, making it an ideal choice for front or back teeth. Zirconia crowns blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth and provide excellent resistance to wear and fracture.
- E-Max: E-max crowns and bridges are crafted from lithium disilicate, which offers superior aesthetics. The material closely mimics the natural appearance of natural tooth enamel with its translucency and light-reflecting properties. E-max is known for its strength, durability, and incredibly lifelike appearance.
Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?
Dr. Bakshi may recommend a dental crown for the following reasons:
- To protect a weak or damaged tooth
- To preserve a chipped or cracked tooth
- To restore a worn tooth
- To cover a dental implant
- To support a dental bridge
- To strengthen a tooth after root canal therapy
- To improve the color, size, shape, or overall appearance of a tooth
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a fixed oral prosthetic device that replaces one or more adjacent teeth by bridging the gap in your smile. It usually consists of crowns placed on healthy teeth adjacent to the space, known as abutment teeth, with one or more replacement teeth known as pontics in between. At Celes Dental Studio, we offer the same materials as dental crowns and are also happy to offer porcelain fused to metal bridges.
Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM): While zirconia and E-max are excellent choices for most dental bridges, there are situations where PFM is the preferred material. PFM bridges are known for their superior strength, combining the durability of a metal substructure with a porcelain outer layer for a natural look. They are usually recommended for back teeth, where strength and durability are key for optimal function and longevity.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges offer many benefits, including the following:
- They fill gaps in your smile
- They restore the function of missing teeth
- They make it easy to chew and speak
- They prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting
- They improve your oral health
- They enhance your appearance
- They help you smile with confidence once again
How Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Placed?
Dental crowns and bridges typically require two appointments to complete. When it comes to dental crowns, Dr. Bakshi will reshape the affected tooth to ensure a snug fit. Next, she will take digital impressions to create a digital model of the area, providing a blueprint for our dental lab that will fabricate your custom restoration. Dr. Bakshi will place a temporary crown as you wait.
The dental bridge procedure is similar. Dr. Bakshi will reshape the teeth on either side of the gap and take digital impressions of the area to create your dental bridge. She will place a temporary bridge for protection.
During an upcoming appointment, Dr. Bakshi will secure your permanent crown or bridge to the prepared tooth or teeth and make any necessary adjustments to ensure optimal comfort and function. Your new restoration will look like any of your natural teeth.
What Is the Role of Digital Scans in Modern Dentistry?
Traditional dental impressions using molds and messy putty often cause patient discomfort. Digital scans have revolutionized the process by creating 3D impressions to use as models for precise dental restorations. The innovative technology streamlines the process, reduces the margin of error, and allows for quicker turnaround times.
Digital scans, or intraoral scanning, involve the use of a small, handheld device to capture highly detailed 3D images of your teeth and gums. These scans are not only more comfortable and time-efficient, but they also offer superior precision and efficiency when creating dental restorations.