by Your teeth can become damaged over time depending on your oral and eating habits. The damage can range from tooth decay to cavities and, in severe cases, tooth loss. At this point, you’re left wondering how to restore your damaged smile and self-esteem. Fortunately, all is not lost. Different treatments, such as dental crowns and bridges, can correct the issue and save your smile.
What Are Dental Crowns?
These tooth-like caps are placed on a damaged tooth to restore its shape and size and enhance its appearance. Dental crowns are installed by professional dentists in reputable dental clinics like Grove City Dental.
There are two different types of dental crowns: onlay and traditional crowns. Onlay crowns cover a segment of the damaged tooth, unlike traditional crowns, which cover the entire tooth. Onlay crowns are ideal if your tooth structure is still strong and intact.
How Do Dental Crowns Work?
Dental crowns are ceramic or porcelain caps installed over reshaped teeth. Therefore, crowns can be considered false teeth designed to match your natural teeth in color, shape, and texture. In some cases, dentists use gold alloys to strengthen the crowns.
During the installation procedure, dentists remove the damaged area of the tooth, reshape the remaining part, and install the crown. Once the crown is installed over the reshaped tooth, it’s cemented to prevent movement.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate For Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are ideal for individuals with weak, cracked, crooked, or broken teeth. This treatment is also perfect for people with tooth decay and toothache. Dental crowns provide the best solution for damaged teeth while restoring your smile.
Advantages Of Dental Crowns
There are many benefits associated with getting dental crowns. Some of these benefits include the following:
Crowns Are Custom-Made
Dental crowns are designed to match your natural teeth’s shape, size, and color. They appear realistic, and no one can tell if you have one. Your dentist will also ask about your budget to determine the ideal crown material. This means you can get the perfect treatment for your damaged teeth on a budget if necessary.
Crowns Relieve Discomfort
Damaged teeth experience excess sensitivity whenever you consume something hot or cold, resulting in discomfort. Fortunately, once dental crowns are installed over the damaged tooth, they act as a barrier against pressure and temperature, reducing sensitivity.
Crowns Restore Teeth Appearance
While dental crowns are designed to correct teeth damage, they also enhance your smile’s appearance. As stated, these caps match your natural teeth’s color and texture while fixing cracks, chips, and fractures. In fact, many people prefer dental crowns due to their aesthetic benefits.
Disadvantages Of Dental Crowns
Unfortunately, dental crowns also come with several disadvantages, which include:
Crowns Can Increase Sensitivity
If your crown is too abrasive, it can damage the neighboring teeth and cause sensitivity. If you experience pain or discomfort in the teeth around the crown, notify your dentist immediately.
Crowns Can Damage The Nerves
If your filled tooth is too thin, you can sustain nerve damage. If this happens, you might require root canal therapy or complete nerve extraction. Nevertheless, your dentist will examine your teeth to determine if they can support the crown before installation.
Crowns Can Cause Infection
If your crowns aren’t installed correctly, you might develop other dental issues like infection. It’s, therefore, vital to visit your doctor immediately if you think something is wrong with the crowns.
Dental Bridges
As the name suggests, a dental bridge bridges the gap between teeth. A dental bridge is made of artificial teeth attached to either side of the missing teeth to fill the void.
Dental bridges are perfect solutions for people with missing teeth caused by gum diseases, injury, or tooth decay. People born with missing teeth can also benefit from dental bridges. However, an ideal candidate for dental bridges must have strong and healthy teeth on either side of the gap.
Advantages Of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges benefit a patient in the following ways:
Restore Smile
Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile with no gaps or crooked teeth. Fortunately, dental bridges make this dream come true. It fills the missing teeth, leading to an aligned smile. If you have a missing tooth or teeth, consider dental bridges and restore your self-confidence.
Enhance Speech
Many people with missing teeth experience challenges pronouncing some words and letters. People with this issue are embarrassed about having missing teeth and the inability to speak correctly. If you have missing teeth that interfere with your speech, consider having dental bridges and wave goodbye to speaking with a lisp.
Prevent Teeth From Shifting
Besides strong roots, teeth prevent each other from shifting. However, after a tooth or teeth loss, the surrounding teeth begin to tilt towards the gap, resulting in a crooked smile. At this point, you might require a dental bridge to fill the gap and prevent further shifting.
Disadvantages Of Dental Bridges
The following are disadvantages linked to dental bridges:
Might Cause Dental Issues In The Future
During installation, your dentist might be required to extract part of your existing teeth to create enough room for the bridges. This might cause dental issues in the future.
They Are Costly
Another disadvantage of dental bridges is the cost. Depending on the teeth you want to be replaced, this treatment can cost a few thousand dollars. Your health insurance might not cover the dental bridge’s cost, so you might be required to pay from your pocket.
Conclusion
Whether to have dental crowns or bridges depends on the issue you want to solve. Dental crowns are ideal if you’re looking forward to correcting damaged teeth and enhancing your dental appearance. However, if you have a missing tooth or teeth and want to fill the gap, settle for dental bridges.
Your dentist will also examine your situation and advise on the best solution. Remember, regardless of your chosen solution, how long it’ll serve you depends on your dental hygiene and eating habits. If you care well for dental crowns and bridges, they might last up to 15 years.
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