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Dental crowns and bridges are related procedures, but they’re actually quite distinct from each other. If you’re confused about the difference between a dental crown and a dental bridge, you’re in the right place. The team at Nova Dental is here to help. Let’s take a look at how these treatments differ from one another and explain the basics about each treatment.
Dental crowns, also sometimes called “caps,” are tooth-shaped dental prostheses that are designed to cover up, protect, and restore damaged teeth. They are usually made of porcelain, and are shaped just like a real tooth.
However, the inside of the crown is hollow. This allows the crown to be placed over your existing tooth. Once a crown is in place, it’s attached permanently to the underlying tooth structure using dental cement.
This means the crown completely covers up the remaining tooth structure, all the way down to the gum line. This is why dental crowns are ideal for restoring damaged teeth. They are frequently used to restore teeth that have serious cavities, have been treated with root canal therapy, or have been broken or cracked by dental trauma.
Crowns can last up to 10-20 years before requiring repair or replacement, and they also look and feel just like natural teeth and require no special care. For all of these reasons, they’re almost always the best option for restoring severely damaged teeth.
Dental bridges are related to dental crowns, but they’re distinct from crowns because they are meant to treat missing teeth, rather than cover up damaged teeth. A bridge uses two dental crowns to suspend one or more false teeth, which replace your missing teeth and eliminate the gap in your smile.
To begin the process, the two “abutment teeth” next to the gap in your smile must be trimmed to prepare for dental crowns. Then, the dental bridge will be custom-built to fit into your mouth perfectly. The two crowns will be permanently attached to the abutment teeth, which keeps the false tooth or teeth in place.
Dental bridges can be used when you are missing one or more teeth, but the two teeth next to the gap in your smile are healthy. Usually, 1-2 missing teeth can be replaced with a single dental bridge, though up to 3 teeth can be replaced in some situations.
Compared to partial dentures, dental bridges last a lot longer and are more durable. And while they are not quite as long-lasting or as durable as dental implants, they are more affordable and can be placed more quickly, which may be appealing to some patients.
Whether you have one or two damaged teeth and need dental crowns, or you’re missing several teeth and would like to restore your smile with dental bridges, Dr. Talar Guldalian is here to help. As an expert restorative dentist in Woburn, she can discuss all of your options for restoring your smile, your confidence, and your oral health. Contact us today or give us a call at (781) 369-5722 to schedule an appointment now.