Attractive Dental Crowns and Bridges – Tuscaloosa, Northport, and Surrounding Areas

Traditional Solutions for Missing Teeth

Left untreated, missing teeth can cause remaining teeth to shift out of position, contribute to the deterioration of the jawbone, and ultimately increase the likelihood of more extensive dental and periodontal treatments becoming necessary in the future. Dental crowns and bridges are restorative dentistry options designed to maintain the health and function of the jaw bone while aesthetically restoring the mouth. While some patients opt for more permanent dental implants, traditional crowns and bridges provide attractive, reliable restorations that are less invasive and less costly.

 

At Fikes & Wagner Family Dentistry, you can restore your mouth with dental bridges and dental crowns. Contact our Tuscaloosa, Alabama office today to set up a personal consultation.

An Introduction to Dental Crowns

Also known as “caps,” dental crowns are placed over the entire visible portion of a tooth or attached to a dental implant post. Crowns are custom-crafted to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, complementing them in size, shape, and color.

Functions of Dental Crowns

·         When a tooth has decayed or cracked, a dental crown may be used to protect it from further deterioration.

·         In some cases, teeth requiring large fillings may need extra support, which can be provided by a dental crown.

·         When one or several missing teeth are being replaced by a dental bridge, crowns are placed on two adjacent teeth in order to anchor the appliance.

·         For cosmetic dentistry purposes, crowns can be used to cover teeth that are severely discolored or misshapen. 

·         Dental crowns act as natural-looking prosthetics to place atop dental implant posts.

Placing Dental Crowns

Crowns are typically placed in two trips to our Tuscaloosa office. During your first visit, Dr. Fikes and Dr. Wagner will numb your teeth and gums in order reshape the surface and sides of your tooth to accommodate the crown. To ensure a secure fit, the tooth will be shaped in a tapered fashion. If the crown is being placed over a significantly damaged tooth, and much of the natural surface is missing, the tooth will be built up using filling material such as amalgam or composite resin to create a surface capable of supporting the crown.

 

Once the surface of the tooth has been prepared, impressions will be made of your mouth, which will serve as a guideline for the crown being crafted. Your crown will be specially made in a dental laboratory; because this will take some time, you may be fitted with a temporary crown in the meantime. In two to three weeks, you will return to have your permanent dental crown placed.

 

Dr. Fikes and Dr. Wagner have years of experience expertly placing dental crowns in their Tuscaloosa, Alabama office, and would be happy to discuss your candidacy for tooth restoration during a personal consultation.

An Introduction to Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is comprised of a prosthetic tooth (known as a pontic, and crafted from gold, alloy, or porcelain) anchored between two crowns, which are placed on adjacent healthy – or abutment – teeth. There are several types of bridges:

·         A traditional bridge replaces one or several missing teeth in a row by anchoring the pontics between two crowns, which are placed over adjacent healthy teeth.

·         When teeth are not available on both sides of the gap created by a missing tooth, a cantilever bridge may be used. While cantilever bridges still rely on the placement of two crowns on healthy teeth to anchor the device, the structure is different. Rather than having the pontic placed between the two crowns, the two crowns are placed side by side, with the prosthetic tooth on the end.

·         Maryland bonded bridges rely on a replacement tooth attached to a metal framework that is resin-bonded to existing teeth. This type of bridge is ideal for placement in the front of the mouth, or in areas where little stress is placed on the teeth.

Placing Dental Bridges

Replacing missing teeth with dental bridges will typically require two visits to our Tuscaloosa office. During your first visit, Dr. Fikes and Dr. Wagner will prepare the abutment teeth for the placement of crowns, reshaping and removing enamel as needed. Impressions will be taken of the teeth to serve as a model for the permanent bridge, pontic, and crowns, which will be custom-crafted in a dental laboratory. In the interim, you will be fitted with temporary crowns.

 

When you return in several weeks to have your dental bridge affixed, the permanent crowns will be placed, and the bridge will be bonded to them with dental cement.

Maintaining Dental Crowns and Bridges

A thorough oral hygiene regimen is the best way to ensure that your dental crowns and bridges last as long as possible. Brush and floss regularly, and visit our practice for routine cleanings. With excellent care, bridges and crowns can last as long as ten years.

Learn More about Dental Crowns and Bridges

Replacing missing teeth will maintain the health, appearance, and function of your mouth. To learn more about restoring your smile with dental crowns or bridges, contact the Tuscaloosa, Alabama offices of Fikes & Wagner Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.