Tooth Crowns & Bridges
Tooth crowns
are prosthetic devices used in reconstructive dentistry that are placed over your existing teeth to increase their durability and strength, as well as giving you a clean, smooth look to your teeth, thereby reconstructing their form and function. They are used when porcelain fillings aren't strong enough to keep your tooth structure together.A tooth crown may be recommended by Dr. Elenbaas or Dr. Alexander to fix individual tooth problems like:
- A severely damaged tooth
- A severely decayed tooth
- A severely worn tooth
- A broken, cracked, or fractured tooth
- An outdated filling
- A tooth broken or spoiled due to injury or trauma
Tooth crowns are usually made from three types of materials:
- Porcelain
- Gold
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal
Porcelain crowns are almost as durable as gold crowns, but they are tooth-colored so they are often used when your crown will be placed near the front of you mouth.
Gold crowns, although extremely strong, are typically only used where they won't really be seen, towards the back of your mouth.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are used in situations where porcelain alone isn't strong enough. They have a metal base structure which is covered by porcelain. Over time, the metal may appear as a very thin line near your gum line.
Bridges
Tooth bridges are used to take the place of a missing tooth. Bridges are attached to crowns on your teeth on either side of your missing tooth or teeth. A "replacement" tooth is suspended between your two crowns, creating a bridge. Your bridge fills in where you have one or more missing teeth, creating support for your surrounding teeth so they don't drift out of position.
Bridges differ from implant dentistry in that they are suspended and supported between two crowns, whereas dental
implants are replacement teeth which are directly implanted into your jawbone. A qualified and experienced dentist, such as Dr. Elenbaas or Dr. Alexander, will be able to determine which procedure is right for you.
If you have additional questions regarding tooth bridges or crowns, please see our Frequently Asked Questions about Crowns & Bridges section.
If you would like to learn more about reconstructive dentistry in general, crowns and/or; bridges in particular, please contact us today. We are happy to serve patients throughout the Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi area.