Crowns are a wonderful way of restoring what sometimes may appear to be non-restorable teeth. These teeth end up in bad shape due to a number of reasons, some of which include:
- Large, defective and/or old fillings
- Long term clenching and grinding habits
- Trauma to the face
- Cracked teeth due to ice chewing
Crowns will correct the overall shape, appearance and broken part of the tooth, as well as improve upon the overall bite of the patient.
Crowns are also recommended for teeth that have had a root canal treatment. This treatment tends to weaken the tooth and make it more prone to breaking, particularly in the posterior of the mouth where the biting forces are extremely high.
A bridge is a great way to replace missing teeth. It is bonded in place and can only be removed by your dentist. The main reason for getting a bridge is to minimize the possibility of getting gum disease, which research has proven to be one of the side effects of missing teeth. A bridge also supports your lips and cheek, thus preventing them from sinking in and giving you an older appearance.
Crown and bridge appointments typically involve two appointments:
- During the first appointment, teeth are prepared by removing some enamel and dentin. An impression is then taken and sent to our lab technicians who fabricate the crown or bridge. This process takes approximately two weeks, during which time you will have a temporary crown or bridge covering the prepared teeth. On certain occasions, Dr. Ilic is able to fabricate a crown for you in one day, using the latest dental technology on the market. A digital impression is taken, a crown is designed on the computer, and a milling unit makes your crown in our office. Not everyone qualifies for this procedure and Dr. Ilic will carefully evaluate your case before giving you his opinion.
- During your second appointment, the temporary restoration is removed and the lab-made restoration is placed over the tooth/teeth.