BRIDGES
A dental bridge is a great solution to replace a missing tooth or teeth without the hassle of dentures. A bridge is a single appliance that is usually attached to two teeth on each side of the space where a tooth is missing in your mouth. An artificial tooth attached in the middle of the bridge will fill in the gap where the missing tooth was. The teeth on either side of the gap are then prepared for crowns and a highly accurate impression is made from the prepared area. This mold is used to create a tooth-colored bridge in a special lab. Lastly, the bridge is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the teeth, effectively creating the appearance of a “new” tooth.
CROWNS
Crowns are a form of restoration that covers the entire visible aspect of a tooth in the mouth. If a great deal of natural tooth structure has been lost to decay or previous filling material a crown may be indicated to properly restore the tooth back to original shape and function. A crown can be indicated if a tooth has been cracked, fractured or decayed. After a root canal a crown is indicated to act as the final restoration of the tooth.
Although there are multiple types of crowns, porcelain (tooth-colored) are the most popular because they are the closest to resembling your natural teeth. Porcelain crowns are highly durable and with proper upkeep will last for many years. They are made to match the shape, size and color of your teeth to give you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.
INLAYS & ONLAYS
Inlays and Onlays are a type of restoration, similar to standard dental cavity fillings, that differ in that they are designed and fabricated outside of the mouth. After a cavity is cleaned out, the tooth is shaped to a special configuration and a mold is taken. This mold can be sent to a laboratory and a porcelain Inlay or Onlay is made. Once the restoration is ready, it is cemented to the tooth permanently. Aesthetics can be extremely accurate as the restoration is typically designed by a computer, rather than a standard filling, which is made in the mouth at the time of cavity removal. An Inlay refers to a smaller restoration than an Onlay which typically involves replacing a large portion of missing or decayed tooth structure.