Dental Crowns & Bridges – State College, PA
Rebuild a Beautiful, Functional Smile
Your teeth are designed to last for a lifetime with the right care. Unfortunately, even with the best prevention, they can still be damaged by decay, disease, or trauma. Not to mention, you may even lose a tooth or two over the years. Dr. Marks can rebuild your smile with dental crowns and bridges in State College, PA. He uses high-quality materials and advanced techniques to create results that look natural.
What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown, also known as a cap, is a covering that fits securely over the entire visible surface of a tooth. On its own, a single crown can restore the strength and appearance of a damaged or seriously decayed tooth. They can be made from various materials, but your dentist in State College prefers porcelain. This allows them to be carefully crafted to look, act, and feel like your natural enamel.
Do I Need a Dental Crown?
A crown is versatile to improve the health, structure, and appearance of a tooth. Not only are they widely used in restorative treatments, but now also cosmetic dentistry because they mimic your real teeth. Although they are common, a crown is only recommended when it is in your best interest. A crown can be used to treat:
- A large area of decay.
- A break or fracture.
- Protect a weakened tooth from breaking.
- Cover dark tooth discoloration.
- Improve the shape of a tooth.
- After a root canal.
- With a dental implant.
- With a bridge.
If Dr. Marks determines you need a crown, you are scheduled to have your tooth prepared for the crown. It is cleaned and reshaped before Dr. Marks takes an impression of your tooth. This is necessary to get the exact measurements to ensure it meets your size and shape needs. The dental lab will also make it match the color of your enamel to blend in when you smile. It can take the lab a couple of weeks, so a temporary crown is used in the meantime. After your permanent crown is ready, you return to our dental office to have it bonded in place.
What is a Bridge?
A dental bridge is built of multiple crowns that replace one or more missing teeth. An impression of your mouth is taken to create prosthetics to fill the empty space. Your adjacent teeth are reshaped to allow dental crowns to be bonded over them to hold the bridge in place. This restores your ability to chew, speak, and smile with confidence. They also encourage better oral health and prevent the surrounding natural teeth from shifting out of place.
How Do I Care for My Bridge or Dental Crown?
After your tooth has been restored with a crown or bridge, maintain excellent dental hygiene to keep your teeth healthy. When brushing and flossing at home, pay extra attention when cleaning near the base of the crown or bridge to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Do not forget to visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.
If you need to rebuild your smile, Dr. Marks can help. Contact our dental office today to see if a bridge and crown are right for you.
