When it comes to dental care, there are plenty of different procedures and processes to understand. It’s not always easy to keep track of all the different names for each procedure and its variations. Dental crown and bridges are two different restorative procedures that help address tooth damage or decay when natural teeth cannot be preserved any longer.
Working with a dentist will help you determine which type of dental treatment is best for your individual needs and circumstances. Both a dental crown and bridges can be helpful in these situations, but they both serve slightly different functions as well as have subtle differences in the way they are installed.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a great way to cover a tooth when the natural tooth cannot be saved. A dental crown can help prevent further damage to teeth while also ensuring that they look aesthetically pleasing. Dentists are able to make customized crowns in their offices, and they come in many different colors and shapes.
What is a Bridge?
A dental bridge is a type of restorative procedure that replaces missing teeth to maintain the natural look and function of your smile. A dental bridge is attached to the neighboring teeth, either on the top or bottom, and spans the space where a tooth used to be located. To create a dental bridge, an impression (mold) is taken of your gums and teeth, which are then sent to a dental lab.
The dentist will create an artificial replacement tooth that will fit snugly and securely into place over the two teeth on either side. The artificial replacement tooth will usually be made out of porcelain or metal alloy. If you are interested in restoring your smile with a dental bridge, please contact our office today!
Differences Between a Crown and a Bridge
A dental crown is essentially a cap that fits over your existing tooth. A dental bridge, on the other hand, replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth that are attached to two or more natural teeth.
Crowns – A dental crown is a great solution for situations where only one tooth needs to be restored. This procedure can also help strengthen a weakened or cracked tooth. Additionally, if you have an exposed root from a removed tooth, this type of restoration can help protect the remaining tooth from further damage.
Bridges – Dental bridges replace missing teeth with artificial teeth that are connected to natural teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. This solution is often recommended when multiple teeth are missing and it’s not possible to replace them all with implants. Bridges provide stability and support for your smile so you can eat and speak without discomfort or embarrassment.
Dental Crowns – Unlike bridges, dental crowns cannot replace entire groups of missing teeth due to their limited surface area coverage on your jawbone. A dental crown will cover the front part of your tooth, but not the back half where it would attach to the gum line as a bridge would. If there is no room left in your mouth for more bridges because you’ve already had too many installed, then a crown may be an option as it has more surface area coverage than a bridge.
How Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Installed?
Both a dental crown and bridge are installed by a dentist. A dental crown is typically installed when the tooth to be treated is still functional, but has lost significant structure and needs to be structurally supported. When decay or damage has left teeth loose, a dental bridge may be recommended instead of a dental crown. A dental bridge is designed to fill in gaps where natural teeth have been lost. This will not only restore your smile but also function as replacements teeth that can help keep your mouth stable. A dental crown is glued into place on top of the damaged tooth as you would do with a filling.
In contrast, a bridge needs to take more time to install as it requires two separate appointments for this process. The first appointment involves taking an impression of the teeth on either side of the gap where the missing tooth was located and using that impression to create false (or artificial) teeth that will fit in the space created by the missing tooth. At this point, any remaining healthy teeth are then prepared so they can support this new appliance; after these preparations are completed, the false teeth are put into place and held in place until they are fused with the cement during an additional appointment two weeks later.
Benefits of Dental Crowns and Bridges
As mentioned, both dental crowns and bridges are used to help address tooth damage or decay when natural teeth cannot be preserved any longer. Dental crown and bridges cover natural teeth from the gum lineup and are anchored securely with strong dental cement. Bridges are installed on adjacent teeth to provide support for tooth structure.
There are a few different benefits that you will enjoy when you have either type of dental restoration installed. The most notable benefit is that they protect your teeth from further deterioration or damage. Both offer an aesthetically pleasing solution to the negative effects of tooth decay or damage, making them an excellent choice if you have been planning on improving your smile as well as your oral health.
Conclusion
A dental crown is an artificial tooth-shaped cap that covers the tooth and is cemented in place. Crowns are usually used to strengthen teeth that have broken or are severely decayed. A bridge, on the other hand, is a fixed dental prosthesis that replaces missing teeth. When teeth are missing in the front of the mouth, a bridge will span the gap to fill it. A crown is typically used to cover teeth with a large amount of decay, or teeth that have been broken and need to be strengthened. A bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis that fills in the space lost when a tooth is missing.
The two main differences between the two are that a bridge spans one or more missing teeth while a crown covers only one tooth. Another difference is that crowns are cemented to the front of the natural tooth while bridges are cemented to the surrounding teeth. There are also some benefits to bridges and crowns. With bridges, it can be easier to keep your natural teeth healthy and strong.
References:
1-Aspiration of the dental crown in an elderly patient
Available online on 18 June 2021, By Henrique Hadad
doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2021.05.041
2-Psychological effects of aesthetic dental treatment
Available online 21 September 1998, By L.G Davis
doi.org/10.1016/S0300-5712(97)00031-6
