Crowns And Bridges
Restore Strength & Renew Your Smile In Henrico
Losing a tooth affects both the appearance and function of your smile, making it difficult to eat or speak naturally. Tooth loss can also add stress on your remaining teeth, increasing your risk for gum disease as well as other oral health related complications. The extra space may allow surrounding teeth to shift out of position, leading to bite problems and even subtle changes in your facial structure over time. To help patients restore their smile and protect long-term oral health, our dentists at Tuckahoe Creek Dental are proud to offer custom crowns and bridges.
What Is A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a custom restoration that fits over a damaged or weakened tooth. It restores strength, function and appearance while protecting what remains of the natural tooth structure. Crowns are often recommended for teeth that are cracked, severely decayed, worn down or treated with a root canal.
What Is A Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a restoration that helps maintain your oral health while completing your smile. Bridges use synthetic teeth to bridge gaps caused by missing teeth. These replacement teeth, known as pontics, are crafted from materials such as metal, porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal. Pontics can be carefully matched in size, shape and color to blend seamlessly with your natural smile. Bridges are typically used to replace one to two teeth, but can replace up to four.
Types Of Bridges
There are four common types of dental bridges. The type that is best for you will depend on your oral health, the location and number of missing teeth and your goals for treatment, along with Dr. Graham’s recommendation. Because a bridge relies on healthy teeth, gums and bone for long-term success, any existing dental concerns will need to be addressed beforehand.
Traditional Bridge
Traditional bridges are fixed in place and anchored by crowns placed on the healthy teeth on each side of the gap. First, the two supporting teeth, known as abutment teeth, are prepared for crowns. This requires removing a small portion of the tooth structure and creating impressions. The crowns are then crafted and attached to each side of the artificial tooth, forming a single bridge unit. Once complete, the crowns are cemented to the prepared teeth, securing the crowns and bridges in place.
Cantilever
Bridge
As part of our comprehensive crowns and bridges solutions, a cantilever bridge may be recommended when there are not healthy teeth available on both sides of the missing tooth to serve as abutment teeth. In this case, a single healthy tooth on one side of the gap can be fitted with a crown to support the pontic. Because the pontic is supported on only one side, cantilever bridges are typically not recommended for the back of the mouth, where chewing forces are stronger and additional stress could affect the supporting tooth over time.
Maryland
Bridge
A Maryland bridge is a more conservative option than a traditional bridge because it does not require crowns to hold it in place. A pontic is created with two wings made of resin, porcelain or metal attached to the back which are bonded to the backs of neighboring teeth. This type of bridge is often used to replace one or two front teeth and is not typically strong enough for molars. Unlike traditional crowns and bridges, a Maryland bridge does not require crowns, making it a more cost-effective option for many patients.
Implant-Supported Bridge
An implant-supported bridge is connected to dental implants instead of natural teeth. Small posts are surgically placed into the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone to create a strong and stable foundation. Once healed, the bridge is attached to the implants using specialized connectors called abutments.
As part of our comprehensive approach to crowns and bridges, implant-supported bridges are often recommended when multiple teeth are missing or when the surrounding natural teeth are not strong enough to support a traditional bridge. In addition to restoring your smile, implant-supported bridges help preserve jawbone health by providing the stimulation needed to maintain bone density.
Same Day Crowns And Bridges With CEREC Technology
At Tuckahoe Creek Dental, we combine time-tested restorative techniques with advanced in-office technology to make your treatment more efficient and convenient. We are proud to offer same day crowns and bridges using CEREC technology.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics and allows us to digitally scan, design and create your restoration right here in our Henrico, Va., office. In many cases, your crowns and bridges can be completed and bonded in a single visit, eliminating the need for temporary restorations and multiple appointments. Crafted from high quality ceramic materials, CEREC crowns and bridges are designed to be both durable and natural-looking.
Personalized Care. Exceptional Results.
When you choose Tuckahoe Creek Dental for crowns and bridges, you are choosing more than a high quality restoration. You are choosing a team that treats patients like family. Dr. Graham takes pride in delivering exceptional care while prioritizing your comfort and long-term oral health, helping you achieve a smile that is both beautiful and strong. Request your appointment online today or contact our office at (804) 741-2812.
Purpose. Precision. Quality.
Caring for Generations of Smiles In Metro Richmond
Tuckahoe Creek Dental is proud to offer family friendly, high quality dental care with the latest technologies to the community in Henrico, Virginia. Dr. Matthew Graham and our team focus on patient education through our comprehensive array of dental services personalized to patients’ needs. Request your appointment today to receive dental care that truly stands out.
