Dental Crowns & Bridges

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DENTAL CROWNS & BRIDGES IN JOHNSTOWN, COLORADO

what are dental crowns and bridges?

Dental crowns and bridges in Johnstown allow dentists to protect and restore damaged teeth. Typically, when tooth decay is severe enough that it can’t be treated with a filling, a dental crown will cover, or cap, the tooth. Plus, crowns are also commonly used to seal teeth that have been treated with root canal therapy. And occasionally, dental crowns are used for cosmetic purposes or in smile makeovers. 

Furthermore, a dental bridge is a type of dental work that replaces a tooth or a few consecutive missing teeth. Moreover, two dental crowns are placed on the healthy teeth living on either side of the gap left by your lost tooth. Plus, a false tooth, or pontic, is attached to the crowns and literally bridges the gap, replacing your missing tooth.

how dental crowns and bridges work together

PREPARATION OF ABUTMENT TEETH

doctor ralston will clean and numb your mouth, and then begin to trim away a thin layer of enamel from the two teeth next to your missing tooth. These are known as “abutment teeth” and they will hold your crowns. Your bridge will permanently attach to these crowns.

IMPRESSIONS

Once your abutment teeth have been prepared, doctor ralston will use dental putty and trays to take impressions of your teeth. These impressions will be used by a technician at a dental lab to build your dental bridge.

TEMPORARY BRIDGE

Depending on your needs, doctor ralston will place a temporary resin bridge to protect your prepared abutment teeth, or two temporary dental crowns. Either way, your prepared teeth will be covered and protected until your permanent bridge can be placed.

BRIDGE CHECK & ADJUSTMENT

Once your permanent bridge is ready, usually within a few weeks, you’ll come into the office to have the bridge checked for proper fit. Minor adjustments may be made by doctor ralston, if necessary, to ensure that your bridge looks and feels natural. If the bridge requires larger adjustments, it will be sent back to the lab for further refinement.

PERMANENT PLACEMENT

Once you and doctor ralston have determined that the fit of your bridge feels right, they will use powerful dental cement to attach it permanently to your abutment teeth, restoring your smile and your bite.

did you know…

Dental crowns are also referred to as “caps” because they cap the existing tooth structure in order to restore it.

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types of dental crowns and bridges

Did you know...

Dental bridges can be used to replace up to 3 consecutive missing teeth.

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have questions about crowns and bridges? find answers here.

did you know…

When properly placed and with good oral hygiene habits, dental crowns can last up to 15 years.

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