Dental Crowns and Bridges
At The Whole Tooth, we enjoy helping our patients discover their healthiest, best smiles. Sometimes that involves using dental restorations like crowns and bridges to bring your oral health up to par.
If you have a broken or cracked tooth, we might recommend a dental crown to strengthen and protect its structure. Missing teeth affect your confidence and oral health, and in this case, our dentists in Dunwoody, GA would recommend a bridge.
How a Dental Crown Can Help You
Did you know that tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body? While it's incredibly strong and durable, it can become compromised and need extra support and protection.
A dental crown that fits over the entire tooth is the answer when a tooth filling alone won't do the job. Several examples are:
- A cavity has affected so much of the tooth that a filling can’t protect it.
- A damaged tooth has already been filled multiple times and now requires a dental crown.
- A tooth that has had a root canal needs the strength of a crown to support it.
- A cracked, broken, or a severely worn tooth needs the protection of a crown.
- A tooth is too small, oddly shaped, discolored, and a crown will improve its aesthetics.
Steps for Getting a Dental Crown
The process for getting a crown at our Dunwoody dental office typically requires two visits. During the first, our dentist prepares the tooth, takes comfortable digital impressions, and chooses the perfect shade of white for your new crown.
Before you leave our office that day, Dr. Starnes places a temporary crown on your tooth to protect it while a custom dental lab prepares your final restoration.
In about 2-3 weeks, you will return to The Whole Tooth so we can remove your temporary and place the crown on your tooth.
Why You Might Need a Dental Bridge
Our dentists always recommend replacing a missing tooth as soon as possible. Your teeth all work together, and when one is missing, the remaining teeth have to take up the slack. This means they often absorb more force than they were meant to, which results in teeth grinding, broken or cracked teeth, and TMJ problems.
A dental bridge places an artificial tooth or pontic in the gap, supported on either side with crowns attached to adjacent teeth.
Getting a dental bridge placed at our Dunwoody, GA dental office is similar to a crown; we prepare the tooth, take impressions, and an outside dental lab customizes your new restoration. When it’s ready, we’ll make an appointment so you can come in and have the bridge placed on your teeth.
Schedule a Dental Appointment
We use high-quality, durable materials like porcelain, E-max, and zirconia for our crowns and bridges that can last 10-15 years (or longer) when you brush and floss conscientiously and schedule six-month visits with us for dental exams and cleanings.
If you live in Dunwoody or any surrounding communities and think a crown or bridge might help you, call The Whole Tooth to schedule an appointment so we can help you.
