Failing or missing teeth damage personal appearance, oral health and function. When natural tooth structure is failing or absent, dental crowns and bridges from Joe Isaacson Dental restore smiles to full health and realistic aesthetics.
Wilmington dental bridges and crowns restore youthful smiles
Dentist in OKC, Dr. Joe Isaacson and his associate, Dr. Ashley Bledsoe Cook, agree: work hard to take care of and preserve your natural tooth structure. However, life happens, and sometimes, smiles need help from dental crowns and bridges crafted at Joe Isaacson Dental. These restorations are custom-fabricated to fit the individual needs of patients needing teeth restored and smile gaps spanned.
The Dental Crown
A dental crown, or “cap,” is a restoration custom-fabricated to cover remaining healthy tooth structure above the gum line. Lifelike and crafted from oral impressions, crowns preserve teeth which have suffered injury, root canal therapy, excessive decay or large fillings.
Placed in as few as two visits to Joe Isaacson Dental, dental crowns are made from:
- porcelain
- gold (the strongest)
- porcelain fused to metal
During the procedure, the dentist shapes the existing tooth structure to receive its crown. He or she may place a temporary cap to cover the tooth while the lab fabricates the restoration. During the next appointment, the doctor removes the temporary restoration and bonds the lifelike, color-matched crown in place.
With routine daily brushing and flossing, a dental crown lasts seven to ten years and more. The dentists urge patients to get dental examinations every six months, along with hygienic cleanings, to keep restored teeth healthy.
The Dental Bridge
Secured by dental crowns to adjacent teeth, a dental bridge spans a smile gap with a natural-looking and well-functioning prosthetic. A bridge helps facial appearance, chewing and speech.
The bridge procedure takes at least two dental appointments. After removing enamel from the teeth at either end of the smile gap, Dr. Isaacson or Dr. Cook takes an oral impression and digital X-rays to devise a patient care plan. The information is sent to a trusted outside lab where a technician crafts prosthetic teeth (pontics) and two crowns on either end of the appliance. These crowns cover the supporting natural teeth (abutment teeth).
At the next appointment, the dentist bonds the new bridgework in place, adjusting it fit and ensuring that the two arches bite together properly. The doctor checks color, shape and size match so the patient’s finished smile looks natural. Dental bridges require routine at-home and in-office hygiene just as natural teeth do. With good care, bridges last a decade or more.
Other options for dental bridgework include the cantilevered bridge, supported by a crown at one end of the appliance, and the Maryland bridge, with teeth mounted on a frame bonded to adjacent natural teeth. Dentists use these choices far less frequently than traditional fixed crowns and bridges.
A very popular choice is the implant-supported bridge. Secured to the jawbone with a series of titanium dental implants, this replacement option lasts indefinitely, looks great, functions well and preserves the size and integrity of the jawbone.
Restore Compromised Smiles
Dental crowns and bridges are an outstanding alternative to compromised smiles. Learn more by contacting Joe Isaacson Dental and arranging a smile analysis with one of our wonderful dentists.