Durable and Natural-Looking Restorations
If you struggle with severely damaged or decayed teeth, you know how difficult it can be to perform simple tasks like chewing or speaking with comfort. When left untreated, missing or damaged teeth can put your oral health at serious risk for complications like infection.
At Capstone Dental, Dr. Yang is proud to offer both dental crowns and dental bridges to restore and protect your healthy smile. Both restorations provide a natural-looking and functional restoration so you can smile with confidence. Read on to learn more about these treatments and how you may benefit.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are durable, tooth-colored caps placed over a structurally compromised tooth to restore its look and functionality. Crowns also protect against bacteria above the gum line, preserving the natural structure of your tooth. Dr. Yang can customize your crowns to match the shape, size, and color of your surrounding teeth for a seamless blend with your smile.
When Are Dental Crowns Necessary?
Dr. Yang may recommend dental crowns for patients with:
- Deep or widespread cavities
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Severely decayed or damaged teeth
- Teeth treated with root canal therapy
- Dark-colored stains that cannot be whitened
What Are Dental Bridges?
As their name suggests, dental bridges bridge the gap left by missing teeth to restore your healthy smile. Bridges are an ideal solution for patients missing up to four adjacent teeth.
Dental crowns are an essential component of bridges, as they’re the “anchors” on either side of the restoration. They support the fake teeth, known as pontics, which will fill in the gaps left by tooth loss. Crowns help stabilize dental bridges and ensure they blend in naturally with your smile.
When Are Dental Bridges Necessary?
Dr. Yang may recommend dental bridges to patients who may not qualify for dental implants. Patients who may benefit from this treatment are ones with:
- One or more missing teeth
- Gaps in teeth
- Severe tooth damage or decay
Benefits of Dental Crowns and Bridges
Dental crowns and bridges come with several benefits that make them a preferred restorative treatment for many patients. Some advantages include:
- Natural appearance
- Quick and minimally invasive procedure
- Restores ability to eat and speak with comfort
- Prevents surrounding teeth from shifting out of place
- Prevents health complications
The Dental Crown and Dental Bridge Process
Depending on your personalized treatment plan you may be able to receive your restoration in as few as two visits to our Charlotte dental office.
Initial Consultation
You’ll first undergo an initial consultation with Dr. Yang, where he’ll thoroughly evaluate your teeth and oral health to determine which restoration is best for you. Once he determines which treatment is best suited for your individual needs, he’ll begin the shaping process.
First, Dr. Yang will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any pain while he works. Once the numbness has set in, he’ll remove a small portion of the enamel from the targeted teeth to make room for dental crowns.
He’ll then take an impression of your mouth to send to a dental lab, where they’ll use these impressions as a blueprint for creating your restoration. For your convenience, we offer both natural-looking and metal-free restorations or porcelain-fused-to-metal for superior strength. In the meantime, you’ll receive temporary crowns to protect your teeth.
Placing Your Restoration
Once we’ve received your restorations from the dental lab, you’ll return to our Charlotte office for your final fitting. Dr. Yang will first remove your temporary crowns and perform a meticulous cleaning of your teeth.
He’ll then place your restoration, making any necessary adjustments to ensure it fits naturally and comfortably. After your crown or bridge is secure, you’re free to leave our office with a beautiful, restored smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dental crowns and bridges last?
With proper care and maintenance, dental crowns and bridges can typically last up to 15 years before needing to be replaced. It’s crucial to practice good oral hygiene to extend the lifespan of your restorations. This includes brushing twice each day and flossing once each day.
We also recommend scheduling biannual appointments at our Charlotte dental office for regular dental exams and cleanings. Routine dental appointments will keep both your oral health and restorations in good condition.
Does getting a dental crown or bridge hurt?
Receiving a dental crown or bridge is a virtually painless experience. Dr. Yang will administer a local anesthetic beforehand to numb the targeted tooth and surrounding areas so you won’t feel any pain.
It’s normal to experience mild discomfort once the numbness subsides, though any pain should fade within a few days. In the meantime, you can manage any discomfort using over-the-counter pain medications. If you continue to experience pain and discomfort, call our Charlotte office at (980) 202-5696 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Yang will assist you in prescribing medication.
Is a dental bridge better than a crown?
Dental crowns and bridges both have unique benefits. If you have damaged or decayed teeth, dental crowns may be the ideal solution. However, dental bridges are ideal restorations for patients missing several teeth in a row. Dr. Yang will determine which treatment will be most effective for you at your initial consultation.
Learn How Dr. Yang Can Restore Your Smile
At Capstone Dental, Dr. Yang and our expert dental team can help restore your smile’s beauty and functionality with our convenient dental crown and bridge treatments. To schedule an appointment at our Charlotte office, give us a call at (980) 202-5696. You can also request an appointment online by filling out our contact form.