Crowns & Bridges

When you have damaged or missing teeth, you may need a crown or bridge to restore your smile. At Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, in Woodbridge, Virginia, the team offers custom-fitted crowns and bridges to improve oral function and appearance. To find out more about crowns and bridges and how they can fix your or your child’s smile, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

What are crowns and bridges?

Crowns and bridges are custom-fitted tooth prosthetics that replace or restore damaged or missing teeth.

Crown

A crown, or cap, covers your natural tooth or a dental implant, restoring shape, strength, or appearance. Dentists use various materials to make crowns, including metal, porcelain, and ceramic. 

The team at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, uses tooth-colored materials to make dental crowns for adults. 

For pediatric patients, the board-certified pediatric dentist follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations, using stainless steel crowns, which are silver in color.

Bridge

A bridge fills in a gap between missing teeth. Dentists use your natural teeth or a crown to anchor the bridge in place. 

Once in place, you can’t remove a crown or bridge. 

Who needs crowns and bridges?

The Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, team determines who needs a crown or bridge after a consultation. You may require a crown if you have a damaged or decayed tooth that’s still intact. If you have missing teeth, the team may recommend a bridge.

For pediatric dentistry, the team uses crowns for:

• Large cavities not fixable with a filling
• Fractured tooth
• Abnormally formed tooth
• Severe tooth decay with nerve damage 

Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, also offers inlays and onlays — dental restorations that serve as an alternative to crowns when dental fillings aren't enough to fix the tooth. Inlays go in the center of the tooth, while onlays wrap around, covering at least one cusp (elevated part) of the tooth.

The team customizes inlays and onlays for a secure fit.

What happens during the placement of a crown or bridge?

The team at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, customizes your crown or bridge to match your specific bite. In most cases, the team places crowns or bridges in one to two dental visits.

First, your dentist reduces your tooth to ensure a proper fit for your crown. Then, they take an impression of the tooth to create the mold used to make your crown. 

If a dental lab needs to make your crown or bridge, your dentist places a temporary dental restoration until your permanent crown or bridge is ready. Then, they cement the crown or bridge in place to complete your smile.

What can I expect after the placement of crowns or bridges?

You may have some sensitivity following a crown or bridge placement, especially to hot and cold foods and beverages. You may also have some soreness around the gums. 

The team recommends over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage any discomfort, which should subside within a few days.

To find out more about crowns and bridges at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.