Mangat Dental Center in San Jose

What are Crowns and Bridges?

A crown is a cover placed on a tooth that helps restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can significantly improve your tooth’s appearance and make it stronger. When there is not enough tooth remaining to hold a filling or if you need to protect a weak tooth, a crown is a great option to restore your smile.

A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth that literally “bridge” the gap where one or more teeth used to be. There are two types of bridges: removable and fixed. A removable bridge can be taken out and cleaned, while a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist.

Both crowns and bridges can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials.

What are the benefits of Crowns and Bridges?

Dental crowns and bridges can help restore your smile and tooth structure. They are used when a tooth or teeth are missing or have too weak a structure to support a filling. Fixed bridges and crowns are a better option than dentures since they help restore your mouth’s structure.

Some fixed crowns and bridges are mounted on dental implants, which creates a strong foundation for the crown or bridge. The dental implants are usually attached to an area below the gum tissue, or the bone. Crowns and bridges can successfully restore the natural contour of your tooth as well as the proper bite relationship between the lower and upper teeth.

What does a Crown or Bridge procedure entail?

A tooth or surrounding teeth are usually reduced in size to accommodate the crown or bridge. Next, a cast is made of the existing tooth and an impression is made. The impression is then sent to a lab that fabricated the custom crown or bridge. After your custom-made crown arrives, it is cemented into place. A custom-made bridge can be attached to two surrounding teeth or placed over dental implants.

How long do Crowns and Bridges take?

Because a crown is a replacement for one missing or decayed tooth, they generally take half the time of a bridge – around 45 minutes. A Bridge will usually take 1-1/2 hour. Bridges attached to dental implants can take up to 3 hours. Both bridges and crowns can usually be completed in one to two visits at Mangat Dental Center in San Jose.

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