Crowns & BridgesA dental crown is a cap that’s placed over your tooth to restore its strength, shape, size, and improve its overall appearance. At Edison C. Louie DDS, Inc., we can help you with dental crowns. Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?There are several reasons why you would need a crown. Perhaps you have a weak tooth? You will need a dental crown to protect it from breaking. If you have a cracked tooth, you’ll also need a dental crown to hold together the cracked parts of the tooth. Dental crowns effectively restore a tooth that’s severely damaged or worn down. If you wish to have a cosmetic modification, then dental crowns are your best bet. Moreover, in case you’ve had a dental implant, a dental crown can perfectly cover that up. Also, dental crowns are used to cover any type of discolored and or misshapen teeth. Other reasons why you may need a dental crown are to hold in place a dental bridge and to support as well as cover a tooth that has a major filling where very little of your tooth is left. Dental Crowns ProcedureWe will recommend no less than two dental visits to adequately prepare your tooth for dental crown placement. The first visit aims to examine as well as prepare the tooth that needs to be crowned while creating an impression of your tooth to construct the crown. During your first visit, we will place a temporary crown on your tooth to protect it. Once the crown has been constructed in the dental laboratory, you will be called in for a second visit. At this point, we will remove the temporary crown and replace it with the permanent and custom-made one. First VisitWe will take an X-ray of your jawbone and tooth to investigate any decay signs and various factors that might heighten the risk of injury or infection to the pulp of your tooth. Depending on the results of the investigations, some patients may require a root canal treatment before the crown is placed on their tooth. Next, your tooth has to be shaped to give the crown room. The extent your tooth needs to be reshaped will depend on the crown type. For instance, Porcelain crowns need the removal of more structure compared to metal-based crowns which are thinner. If you’ve got any tooth decay, we will treat it at this point. This is followed by an impression and temporary crown placement as aforementioned. Second VisitMeanwhile, we will send the impression of the tooth to the laboratory to ensure the crown is shaped correctly. The process may take about three weeks, hence why we recommend more than one visit to place your permanent crown accurately. Before cementing in the crown, we make sure that both the color and fit of the crown match the surrounding teeth. Worried about feeling pain during the procedure? Don’t be. We administer a local anesthetic to numb the area. Need more information about crowns? Contact our Dental helpline at Edison C. Louie DDS, Inc. at (714) 998-5710 today! Dental BridgesA dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance and is one of the traditional dental methods for replacing missing teeth. The type of bridge used most often is called a fixed bridge, and consists of two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth (abutment teeth) and are attached on either side of the artificial teeth (pontics), filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Dental bridges are highly durable and will last many years with proper home care; however, they may need to be replaced or re-cemented due to normal wear. Reasons for a Fixed Bridge
What does a fixed bridge involve?Getting a bridge usually requires two or more visits. While the teeth are numb, the two anchoring teeth are prepared by removing a portion of enamel to allow for a crown. Next, a highly accurate impression (mold) is made which will be sent to a dental laboratory where the bridge will be fabricated. In addition, a temporary bridge will be made and worn for about two weeks until your next appointment.At the second visit, your bridge will be carefully checked, adjusted, and cemented to achieve a proper fit and comfortable bite. You will receive care instructions at the conclusion of your treatment. Proper brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new bridge. Call us at (714) 998-5710 to schedule your appointment with us. |