Crowns and Bridges FAQ

Cosmetic Dentistry - Crowns and Bridges FAQ

Q: What are crowns and bridges?

A: A crown is a treatment that restores a tooth by capping it. This reinforces the tooth as well as improves its appearance. Crowns are the preferred method of treatment when fillings aren't comprehensive enough to treat the problem. Especially for a cracked tooth, crowns are a good choice because they hold the tooth together and keep it from cracking or breaking further. Crowns can also:

• Cover imperfectly shaped teeth
• Cover stained teeth
• Keep weak teeth from fracturing
• Restore cracked teeth
• Support a large filling when there isn't enough tooth structure
• Support an attached bridge

A bridge is a set of interconnected crowns that replaces your missing tooth or teeth by using your surrounding teeth to support the bridge. When a bridge is attached on either side by a crown, it is referred to as a fixed bridge and cannot be removed.

Q: How is a crown placed?

A: There are several steps to placing a crown.

1. The tooth is prepared by reducing it so that the crown will fit and feel like your natural tooth.
2. An impression of your teeth and gums is made so that the lab can create a custom crown to fit your mouth.
3. A temporary crown is placed for use while the permanent crown is being fabricated.
4. On your return visit, Dr. Konig will remove the temporary crown and replace it with the custom-made crown, permanently cementing it into place.

Q: What causes dark lines near the gums from crowns?

A: Dark lines near the gums are usually created when the metal part of a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown shows. This type of crown was commonly used in the past, dentists keeping abreast of technology use all-porcelain crowns. These are just as strong, but much more aesthetic.

Q: Why use all-porcelain crowns?

A: Previously, the most common crowns were porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) types which had a metal lining covered with porcelain. These would often have a dark line near the gum where the metal wasn't entirely covered. If people had a reaction to the metal, sometimes the dark discoloration would even appear on neighboring gum tissue.

All-porcelain crowns are the preferred type of crown in use today for this aesthetic reason, unless there is strong argument against using an all-porcelain crown. dele. The best benefit is that they appear almost indistinguishable from your natural teeth, due to their translucent quality and custom coloring.

Q: Why are crowns sometimes recommended instead of veneers?

A: The reason a cosmetic dentist might recommend a crown instead of porcelain veneers is that when a crown is placed, more tooth structure is removed because more of the tooth is covered with a crown than with a veneer. Crowns are usually used in cases where there is a large amount of tooth structure lost, or to replace missing teeth, when veneers can't be used. Also, crowns will work on dental implants as well as on your natural teeth.

Q: What treatments can help if I have a missing tooth?

A: Previously, a partial denture was the only solution. However, today you have several alternatives:

• Implant with a crown—a dental implant is a cylinder made from titanium that is attached to the jawbone and serves as the root for the new "tooth" or crown. The crown must wait to be placed, however, while the implant bond with the jawbone strengthens, allowing it to withstand the enormous pressure of chewing. This new "tooth" becomes part of your mouth, and you care for it in the same way as you do your natural teeth. We do have several treatments to make sure that you never go without a tooth during this treatment.
• Bridge—Since a bridge is bonded to the teeth on each side of the missing tooth, the bridge acts like the missing tooth. This procedure is simpler and less invasive than getting an implant, but it is not nearly as strong or long-lasting.

Q: What can I expect to happen when I get my crown placed?

A: There are a few things that you can expect during your crown placement.

1. The area in which you will be receiving the crown will be numbed with a local anesthetic. (You might feel numb for one to four hours, depending on the type of anesthetic used. Because different people react differently to anesthesia, numbness may last longer. It may we wise to eat a liquid or soft diet or skip eating entirely until all of the sensitivity in your mouth returns to normal.)
2. The numbed area will be checked, and once it is sufficiently numb, the tooth will be prepared for the crown.
3. Once fully prepared, an impression will be taken so that your crown can be made to precisely fit the prepared tooth.

If you feel any pain or discomfort after returning home, you may take a mild pain-reliever such as Advil, aspirin, or Tylenol, as long as you have had no prior problems with these medicines. If discomfort continues, please call Dr. Konig's office.

Once your crown is placed, you can expect it to function normally and fit aesthetically with the rest of your teeth.

Q: How do I take care of my crowns?

A: In order to keep your crowns like new and prevent them from damage or breakage, avoid anything that could hurt them, like chewing hard foods or ice, similar to how you should care for your natural teeth. A properly designed crown should feel and look like your natural teeth. Just like your natural teeth, you need to take care of them if you want to keep them for a lifetime.

For more information about dental crowns or bridges, or to schedule a consultation in our Houston, Texas office, please email or call us today.

Frequently Asked Questions about Crowns and Bridges

Providing smile makeovers with cosmetic dentistry for patients across the U.S., for international patients and in the Houston, Texas area including Baytown, Galveston, Houston, Katy, Sugar Land and Woodlands.