Crowns and Bridges—What Are They and How Do They Work?

Jul 18th, 2013
Easton Dentists Mar 1st, 2017

If you are one of many people in the Columbus, Ohio area struggling with your oral health, you may feel like there is no way to regain the healthy look and feel that your teeth once had. At The Dental Center at Easton, we use dental crowns and bridges to not only restore the health of your teeth but also to make them look better! If you are considering a dental crown or bridge, you likely want to learn more about these crucial dental devices.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is put on top of a damaged tooth in order to create a protective covering. It is a permanent device that should only be placed and removed by an experienced dentist.

How Does a Dental Crown Work?

Crowns cover up and protect weak, fractured, or malformed teeth. They can also be used as “posts” for dental bridges. In addition to serving as structural supports, crowns also provide a healthy and functional appearance to previously misshapen teeth. Crowns are nearly indistinguishable from regular teeth because they are manufactured from porcelain or ceramic and can be accurately matched to your natural tooth color.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge, like its traditional namesake, traverses the gap between missing teeth, teeth with large spaces in between them, or implants form ‘posts’ for a dental bridge. Like dental crowns, bridges are permanent devices that require installation and removal by an experienced dentist.

How Does a Dental Bridge Work?

When a dental patient has missing teeth, the other teeth in their mouths begin to shift direction in order to fill the empty space. This can often lead to an unhealthy bite profile, jaw problems, and even gum disease. A dental bridge works to cover this gap and maintain a healthy looking and feeling mouth by anchoring itself on two teeth or dental implants called abutments. Crowns are attached to abutments and the pontic, or main part of the bridge, is attached to the crowns. Like crowns, a bridge’s porcelain or ceramic covering can be matched to your natural tooth color. This allows bridges to be almost indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Now that you understand the purpose and processes behind dental crowns and bridges, maintain a healthy mouth by scheduling an appointment with one of the experienced dentists at The Dental Center at Easton! Let help your bridge the gap to oral health!

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