top of page

Crown & Bridge

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a false porcelain tooth fused to the adjacent teeth of the missing space. It is a permanent solution to replacing missing teeth but will require the adjacent teeth to be prepped for crowns so they can be used as an anchor, or abutment, to the missing tooth. A dental bridge is a great option for those wanting a more permanent and esthetic solution to a flipper, and for those that are not good candidates for a dental implant.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a full coverage cap around a weak or damaged tooth. Its main purpose is to protect the tooth from further injury or fracture. Dental caps can also serve an esthetic purpose by covering a discolored tooth with a more esthetic porcelain. Dental crowns can be made of metal, gold, or porcelain material.

What is the Procedure for a Dental Crown?

A dental crown typically takes 2 visits.

  1. The first visit is the prep appointment. During your first visit, Dr. Bridget will:

    1. File down the outer parts of your tooth, including the weak parts.

    2. Make an impression, or a mold, of the tooth.

    3. Place a temporary crown to cover and protect the tooth while you wait for the dental lab to fabricate the permanent porcelain crown.

  2. The second visit is the deliver appointment. It is a much shorter appointment and typically requires no more drilling of your tooth. During your deliver appointment, Dr. Bridget will:

    1. Remove the temporary crown.

    2. Try in the permanent crown and make sure the fit, color, and height of the crown is ideal.

    3. Permanently cement the crown.

Your Dental Crown Fell Out. Now What?!

It’s not common for a dental crown to fall out, but if it does, it’s important not to panic. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts to follow if you have a crown come off.

​

Don’t:

  1. Don’t use glue to cement your crown. It’s not as adhesive or effective as a permanent cement, and you may end up accidentally choking on your crown in your sleep!

  2. Don’t eat any hard or chewy foods in the area where the crown came off because it can damage the remaining healthy structure of that tooth.

  3. Don’t Panic. Call BME Dental right away. If you prolong treatment, decay can form around the tooth or worse, you may irritate the tooth nerve and may need a root canal!

​

Do:

  1. Keep the dental crown in a safe container or plastic bag. Recementing a well-fitting crown is less costly than getting a new crown. However, if there is significant decay or damage inside the tooth, a new crown may be required.

  2. Take pain medication such as Advil or Ibuprofen if you experience sensitivity.

  3. Call BME Dental right away! The crown may have fallen off because it’s old, or due to a cavity inside the crown, or it could be because you grind your teeth at night and now your bite is off. During your visit, Dr. Bridget will assess the integrity of the tooth and the crown in order to give you the best treatment plan so it doesn’t happen again.

bottom of page