Dental Crowns and Bridges in Wilton, CT
A crown is an artificial cover for a tooth that completely encircles the damaged area of the tooth.
A bridge involves two false teeth which are attached to adjacent teeth to replace one or more missing teeth, thus allowing for normal biting, and chewing movements.
A dentist usually places a dental crown on top of an existing tooth, so it provides both structural function as well as aesthetic appeal. Crowns are commonly used in cases where natural tooth structure has been compromised due to decay, breaking, or an unrelated injury.
Alternatively, bridges work by replacing one or more missing teeth with artificial substitutes. This allows people who have lost their back molars (the molars at the very back of your mouth) and don’t want dentures and those with teeth that are severely cracked or breaking to still enjoy their favorite foods without worrying about discomfort.
When Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Used?
When teeth need to be rebuilt to support and restore chewing and biting, the most effective way is with a dental crown or bridge.
A dental crown is a procedure in which we build up the shape of your tooth with composite resin (to make it higher) and then cover the tooth in porcelain (to make it stronger). Bridges are used when one or more teeth are missing. We take an impression of adjacent healthy teeth, fabricate an abutment for each side of the gap, and fasten them together to form a space-maintaining structure that bridges any gap between teeth if necessary.
We also use crowns and bridges for cosmetic reasons as they can be used to hide chips, stains, or other damage on your teeth. Treating the above issues will help you look good and feel good about yourself!
What Does Placing a Crown or Bridge Involve?
Bridges and Crowns are some of the most common dental restorations that you can get. They usually take a shorter amount of time to apply and require only one visit. Each procedure will vary from patient to patient so consult with your local dentist for specific instructions on what to expect if this is something you have been looking into.
A dental crown or bridge may be used to protect a damaged tooth, structurally support teeth that face crowding, or improve the appearance of a mouth.
Both Crowns and Bridges are given when there are multiple teeth in need of protection. Crowns are typically applied to front teeth for cosmetic purposes while Bridges may be used when more than one molar is in need of work.
A Dental Bridge involves replacing one large natural tooth with three false ones. The false teeth are connected by metal anchors on either side, called abutment teeth which span the space over the gap in between roots where the missing tooth belonged to continue contact with both sides of your jawbone, neck bone and other supporting bones. When these anchors connect your two jaws it relieves the tension from your lower jawbone and neck bone. The bridge itself has a replacement tooth that is made of porcelain bonded onto it. This replacement tooth will have a metal or plastic crown on top to give it its final shape, color, and shine.
A Dental Crown restoration covers both sides of a damaged, broken, or decayed tooth to provide protection. A crown is made of metal, ceramic or a combination of both materials depending on the amount of damage you have on your tooth. The porcelain crown that rests over the new metal or plastic structure will resemble your natural teeth in size, shape, and color to give you back your smile once again.
Your new Bridge or Crown will be exquisitely beautiful and very natural-looking.
Tooth-Colored Fillings in Wilton, CT
As an attractive replacement to the commonly used silver amalgam fillings, tooth-colored fillings are a relatively new and more natural type of dental filling, and in most cases they can be matched to the tooth color. This makes them an excellent choice for restoring teeth that are cosmetically flawed or discolored.
What Is a Composite Filling?
Composite fillings are made from a mixture of natural and synthetic substances, so they don’t require the patient to avoid eating or drinking anything for many hours before the procedure. They can also be used in larger cavities where other materials may not be appropriate because it won’t let you get enough shape or volume.
In addition, it’s more resilient than amalgam fillings, but not quite as durable as silver fillings because while the key resin ingredient will withstand biting pressures for at least 15 years, over time decay can weaken their bond with teeth and lead to cracking or breaking off if chewing pressure is heavy enough.
How Is a Composite Filling Placed?
The dentist will administer a numbing agent and then take an X-ray, making sure that there are no abscesses or decay in the area. With special instruments called endodontic files, the dentist cleans out any plaques or tartar from the root of the tooth so that it looks like new under magnification. The dentist then creates a mold of your teeth by covering them with modeling cement. After dry drying overnight, he will trim away any excess at home without drilling into healthy enamel.
Next, the dentist polishes the prepared tooth and takes another X-ray to ensure that there is no damage. He will then place a small amount of composite filling material into the mold and push it into position with a tool called an instrument packer so that you can close your mouth and bite down without any part of it peeking out. The dentist repeats this several times with the rest of the filling material until it is sufficiently full, trying to get all of the cracks and holes that were in your tooth filled in.
Since composite filling materials are not as strong or resilient as old-style amalgam fillings, they cannot be used for teeth that have large amounts of damage.
At the end of the appointment, the dentist will take an X-ray to track how well it is bonding with your teeth. You may need follow-up appointments to make sure that everything is okay and adjust the composite filling if necessary.
Why Choose Composite?