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No one ever wants to lose or damage a tooth, but weakened by a fracture or a large filling, a tooth might not withstand even the simplest activities such as eating. If you have damaged or lost a tooth, your Austin dentist might suggest a crown or bridge, which are artificial replacements used to restore the function and appearance of the damaged or lost tooth. The use of crowns and bridges also help prevent teeth from shifting which commonly occurs after a tooth is lost. By maintaining or restoring your bite and smile, the effects of tooth damage or loss can be significantly reversed. Dental Bridges Restore Strength Your Austin dentist may recommend a dental bridge if you are missing one or more teeth. Gaps that are left by missing teeth can eventually cause your remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth, bridges span the space where the teeth are missing and are permanently attached to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth serve as anchors for the bridge and a replacement is attached to the crowns that cover the anchor teeth, called abutments. Similar to crowns, you have a choice of the materials for bridges. Your dentist can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth, its function, and the patient's goals. Dental Crowns Bring Your Smile Back to Life Dental crowns are used to entirely cover or "cap" a damaged tooth. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for enhanced function. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the color of your natural teeth, with other materials including gold, metal, acrylic and ceramic. These alloys are generally stronger than porcelain and may be recommended to restore your back teeth if needed. Crowns can be used for various reasons, including: * To treat or protect a weak tooth, or those with large fillings
* To strengthen a fractured or broken tooth
* To enhance a tooth that is discolored or treated by a root canal
* To hold a dental bridge in place
* To cover a dental implant
* To provide a strong, smooth, attractive surface for stained, misshapen or abnormal teeth
* To improve the shape, size or color of teeth For those with a gummy smile, which is when a person has too little teeth and too much gums, a procedure called crown lengthening can be performed to reshape gums and bone tissue. This procedure is done to expose more of the teeth underneath the gums. In some cases, dentists perform crown lengthening as part of a more complex procedure that entails bridge and crown work. For example, a tooth may need to be lengthened to make a bridge or crown procedure more effective. It is very important to taking proper care by flossing in the area of the crown or bridge to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration. If you have damaged teeth or are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, visit your Austin cosmetic dentist today for further diagnosis and treatment planning.
Mannem Dentistry, Austin dentist, is a general dentistry practice where patients and their overall health comes as first priority. Serving the Austin area for the last 11 years, Mannem Dentistry provides patients with an array of services including implants, Invisalign, and veneers in Austin, among other services.
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