Newport Beach Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges

Dental Crowns Newport Beach, CA

At Smrecek Dentistry, we have been providing dental crowns and bridges for patients in and around Newport Beach for over 40 years. A crown is used to restore a severely damaged tooth. The damage can be due to decay, fracture or previous fillings in the tooth. A crown or cap covers all the visible surfaces of a tooth, thereby strengthening and protecting it. Before the development of bonding and porcelain veneers, crowns or caps were often used cosmetically to improve the appearance of a smile. Now, if a tooth does not need to be strengthened, but merely needs cosmetic improvement, a more conservative treatment like bonded composite or a porcelain veneer is the preferred treatment. Today there are three main categories of crowns: metal, porcelain fused over metal and all ceramic. All ceramic crowns are done most frequently at our office since they are not only strong and durable but also look the most natural. The two most common types of all ceramic crowns are lithium disilicate and zirconia. If you live in Newport Beach, CA call (949) 759-8606 to schedule your appointment so that you can learn more about dental crowns and dental bridges.
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    What are dental crowns?

    A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth. We typically use a crown to restore a damaged tooth, but they can also use it to improve the appearance of a smile. A crown can consist of three different materials, all-metal, ceramic-on-metal and all-ceramic. The location of the crown in the teeth will determine the best material to use. For example, front teeth need to have an all-ceramic crown, if possible, since it looks the most natural. Patients may often use ceramic-on-metal crowns since they look natural but have the durability that only metal can provide.

    What are dental bridges?

    A dental bridge is way to replace a missing tooth in situations where an implant or removable denture is not appropriate. A bridge is a fixed, nonremovable way to replace a missing tooth by attaching an artificial tooth to a crown on either side of the missing tooth. It can be thought of as three or more crowns splinted together except that where the tooth is missing, the replacement crown is not supported by a tooth underneath it but instead is suspended over the gums where the tooth is missing by its fusion to the adjacent crowns.

    Before the Procedure

    Dental crowns and bridges are considered indirect restorations. The final restoration is made outside of the office and therefore two dental appointments are needed. The first to prepare the tooth or teeth for the restoration, record the exact shape of the prepared tooth via an impression or scan and create a temporary restoration that is worn until the final restoration is made. The second to deliver the final restoration, usually about two weeks later.

    Newport Beach, California Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges

    The Process

    When getting dental crowns and dental bridges installed, it is advisable that you work with a cosmetic dentist that knows how to complete the procedure in a way that looks natural. At Smrecek Dentistry, we can do so while also working to keep our patients as comfortable as possible by using sedation dentistry. The process for both procedures is fairly similar. Before getting started, an impression is taken of the teeth so that the new crown or bridge can be created in a dental lab.

    When placing a dental crown around a tooth, Smrecek Dentistry starts by preparing the tooth. We will need to remove a portion of the enamel so that there is room for the new crown to surround the tooth without pushing other teeth out of place. Once complete, we will clean the tooth and secure a temporary crown to it using removable glue. Patients typically wear a temporary crown for around two weeks while waiting for a permanent one to be created in the lab. During this time, it is important to be careful with what you eat and how you brush your teeth since the temporary is designed to come off.

    When the dental restoratives are complete, patients return to our Newport Beach dentist office, so that we can remove the temporaries and bond the permanent ones to the tooth. For a dental crown, we will secure the cap around the tooth and complete it through dental bonding. With a bridge, a crown is placed on the two teeth that are surrounding the missing one. On top of the crown is a piece that looks like natural gums that will hold the new tooth in place. These two crowns serve as anchors for this synthetic “bridge” and makes a new tooth as durable as it can be. Patients depend on this procedure as a way to replace missing teeth in a way that looks natural and restores the functionality of the missing tooth.

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    After the Procedure

    When getting dental Restoratives, your teeth will be somewhat sensitive after they have been prepared. This is why you need to wear a temporary crown while waiting for a permanent one to be created. We use sedation dentistry to ensure that you will not experience any discomfort during the procedure and after the fact you simply need to take some oral pain medication for a couple of days until you feel better.

    The benefit of wearing a crown is that it surrounds and protects the tooth. This means that regardless of how damaged the tooth was, you can eat your favorite foods without fear of discomfort. A crown can restore the functionality of your mouth by making it easy to eat, drink and speak like normal. This is ideal for people that are suffering from severely sensitive teeth, have a cracked or chipped tooth or have undergone a root canal. Similarly, a bridge makes it possible to eat and speak like normal without worrying about your new tooth becoming loose or falling out. They are both ideal for people that have active lifestyles and don't want to be constrained by their teeth. To find out if the procedure is right for you, call 949-759-8606 to schedule an appointment with us and discuss your options. At Peter T. Smrecek Jr. DDS Inc., we make it easier for patients throughout Newport Beach to have a beautiful and functional smile.

    If you live in the Newport Beach area, call (949) 759-8606 to schedule your dental exam so that you can remain in good health or receive treatment for a current condition.
    Definition of Cosmetic Dentistry Terminology
    Allograft
    An allograft is a graft of tissue from a donor within the same species as the patient that is not a genetic relative.
    Alveolar Ridge
    The alveolar ridge is the bony ridge for one of the jaw ridges located on the roof of the mouth or on the bottom of the mouth.
    Autograft
    An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.
    Bleachorexia
    Bleachorexia is when people continue to abuse teeth whitening solutions without consulting professionals, causing significant damage to their enamel and gums in the process.
    Cap Splint
    A cap splint is a plastic or metallic device that professionals may use to treat mandible or maxillary fractures and cover crowns of teeth.
    Cosmetic Dentistry
    Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums and/or bite.
    Crown Lengthening
    Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that increases the extent of a tooth structure for restorative or esthetic purposes.
    Dental Crown
    A crown is an artificial tooth, usually consisting of porcelain, which covers the top of the implant to provide people with an aesthetically pleasing and fully-functional tooth.
    Dentin Hypersensitivity
    Dentin hypersensitivity is when the enamel wears down on the tooth enough that the dentin faces exposure and will cause great levels of pain when a person applies pressure to the tooth or drinks hot/cold beverages.
    Dentist
    A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
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