Our general dentists provide restorative dental services to all of Kitsap County, including Poulsbo, Bremerton, Suquamish, Kingston, and Hansville.
What are Dental Crowns?
Dentists commonly put on protective dental caps, also known as dental crowns, to prevent more damage. Dentists bond the crown to a piece of the remaining tooth or an implant. Dental technicians create dental crowns in Poulsbo with a hollowed middle. Technicians can even replicate the original color of the broken tooth. The original tooth, or what is left of it, is bonded to the hollowed middle.
What are Dental Bridges?
A dental bridge is a more complicated structure that can take care of several problems. A dental bridge often looks like a small set glued together. The bridge fits over an original tooth and covers missing or broken ones. A dental bridge is smaller than dentures but does about the same thing. They allow people to chew and show their smiles as they did with their original teeth.
These tools can help keep the rest in alignment, especially as teeth can shift when they fall out or break. They can also replace the ones that are missing or broken.
What Are The Options To Replace a Missing Tooth or Teeth?
If you are missing one tooth or several of them, you have a few options to replace them. First, you can get a dental implant, which surgically attaches a faux tooth root to your jawbone. If you need several replacements, you have additional options to consider. Dentists can also add a customized fixed bridge to cover the missing teeth. If you want a fixed dental bridge, our dental clinic can take care of this for you. Fixed sets require less cleaning and care than a removable bridge.
Your other options include:
- Resin-retained bridge
- Removable partial denture
- Removable complete denture
Benefits Of Dental Crowns & Bridges
When you have problems with your smile, a dental cap or bridge can help. Damaged ones can be removed, replaced, or covered using the restorative dentistry to restore your grin so you feel beautiful and healthy when showing your pearly whites. Having a full set of teeth makes it easier to eat, so you can enjoy your favorite foods. Other benefits include:
- Speech improvement
- Facial shape maintenance – especially around your jaw
- Keeping teeth in their original position
- Overall health improvement
- Stabilizing the remaining teeth
- Decreased jaw discomfort
Before the Procedure
Before having major dental procedures, patients should meet with their dentist in Poulsbo, WA for an exam. The dentistry provider will examine each tooth, tongue, and jaw as well as collect information about your medical history. Before having dental crowns in Poulsbo WA, tell your provider about the medications you are taking.
Your dentist might suggest a root canal before the placement of a dental crown, especially for someone who has excessive damage or other needs. The procedure has several steps that are completed in the office:
- Building a foundation for the crown
- Taking X-rays
- Filling the tooth below the crown
- Taking an impression to make the permanent crown
- Placing a temporary crown
Patients might need a few appointments before the final Poulsbo dental crowns or implants are permanently placed. Each patient should talk to their provider about their comfort level and pain tolerance, as your dentist can help you relax before receiving any services.
During that first or second appointment, your dentist will file down the tooth receiving the crown. The dentist does this to make space for the full crown or bridge placement. If too much tooth is missing, the provider will add some filling.
Once the tooth is filled to the appropriate shape, the provider will make an impression if the underside of the crown along with your teeth around and above it, so the top of the crown matches the rest of your them and your bite.
The Process
When you return for the permanent crown appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary one. Then, the dentist checks that the permanent one will fit and that it matches the rest of your teeth. Your Poulsbo dentist will numb the spot and cement the permanent crown into place.
After the Procedure
Your crown or bridge will last between 5 and 15 years, depending on how you take care of your teeth. If you keep your crown clean and avoid some negative behaviors, your crown could last longer. Bad habits that reduce the life of your crown include:
- Chewing ice
- Biting nails
- Opening packages with your mouth
- Clenching your jaw
- Teeth grinding
Also, many patients decide to have teeth whitening procedures so their mouth is filled with a full matching set.
Patients who have any issues with their dental caps should contact us immediately to fix the problem. Your conveniently located Poulsbo dentist can help you find relief from any range of discomfort you might feel. Porcelain caps can chip, and your dentist can either fix it or replace it.
Why Choose Our Office
The family-friendly office can help you with teeth whitening, fillings, cosmetic dentistry work like porcelain veneers, and all dental emergency services to protect your oral health. Our goal is to help each patient have a healthy environment in their mouths.
FAQ
Does a crown or bridge require special care?
You care for a cap the same way you care for your mouth. Brush them twice a day and floss once a day. Caps can collect extra food, which can turn into bacteria and cause more decay and damage, as well as disease.
See your Poulsbo, WA 98370 dentist twice a year for all of your cleanings, exams, fillings, and treatment needs. Any patient who experiences a dentistry emergency relating to these procedures should contact our Poulsbo, WA 98370 office immediately. We take pride in building relationships with all of our patients.
Does a crown or bridge hurt?
Some people experience sensitivity around their caps and bridge, especially after the anesthesia wears off. You might have cold or heat sensitivity, too.
Dentists often recommend that many people with new caps use special toothpaste for sensitivity. Someone who has had a dentistry filling might experience the same amount of discomfort.
What are crowns made of?
All dental implants and caps are made of porcelain, metal, composite porcelain and metal, resin, and pressed ceramic.