DENTAL CROWNS AND BRIDGES IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA
When you have a damaged or missing tooth, your dental health is at risk. A damaged tooth can lead to toothaches and an imbalance in your bite pattern. While a missing tooth can cause teeth shifting and negatively affect your speaking or chewing capabilities, it can also effect your overall and oral health. Untreated missing teeth increase patients risk of developing gum disease and jaw bone deterioration.
To resolve these issues, we offer dental crowns and dental bridges to help restore your mouth and oral health. If you suspect you may have dental damage, Dr. Stacey Hall is here to help you decide what kind of tooth repair you will need to renew your smile.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a prosthetic tooth that takes the place of your natural tooth. Your dentist will shave down your natural tooth to its core so the crown can take its place. This protects your natural tooth without requiring tooth extraction. The crown itself is custom-made to meet your needs.
Our dentist will color-match it to your surrounding teeth to blend in seamlessly. We will ensure that the crown is matched to the exact color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. We will fully restore the natural look of your tooth, so that it appears natural to the naked eye. Crowns can also accompany other treatment options, like supporting a dental bridge or capping a dental implant.
Using a dental implant to support your dental crown provides added structure and support. It also reduces the risk of other oral health issues such as jaw bone deterioration and gum disease. Although the healing time is longer when crowns are secured using implants, the longevity of the restoration is extended.
Dental crowns offer patients a variety of benefits. These benefits include:
- Strengthen your bite pattern
- Restoring the look of natural teeth
- Preventing further tooth loss or damage
- Concealing discoloration
- Enhance the support of dental implants and bridges
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges help patients who are seeking tooth replacement for one or more consecutive teeth. With dental bridges, your surrounding teeth will support the prosthetic tooth. It holds the bridge firmly in its place. Your dentist will also need to shave down your surrounding teeth to make space for the dental bridge.
A dental crown can cap the bridge to provide additional support. Unlike a dental implant, a dental bridge does not involve a surgical component while still restoring your bite pattern and looks. Restoring your bite pattern as soon as possible after losing a tooth is important because imbalances in your bite can lead to tooth shifting, jaw pain, or further tooth loss.
Bridges can also be secured using a dental implant. This provides added structure and takes the stress off of your natural tooth. Securing a bridge with an implant also helps the restoration to function more similarly to your natural teeth.
Dental bridges offer patients a variety of benefits. These benefits include:
- Restoring the beauty of your smile
- Restoring the ability to properly chew and speak
- Prevents facial sagging
- Balances your bite pattern to prevent discomfort
- Prevents teeth from shifting out of place
HIGH-TECH CROWNS AND BRIDGES
No messy impressions here! Lengthy, uncomfortable crown and bridge procedures are a thing of the past because Dr. Hall employs the CEREC 3-D impression system. An in-office design and milling system, CEREC can be used to create a custom ceramic crown while you wait.
How does the 3-D CEREC System Work? The procedure is simple: An intra-oral camera takes a digital scan of your teeth. Then, we convert the image to a 3-D model on the computer. Dr. Hall uses this to design the restoration work you need. The computer sends the data to a milling machine at a dental lab.
They place a ceramic block matching your tooth shade in the milling machine to create the restoration. All that’s left is ensuring proper fit, polishing, and bonding. Bottom line: The 3-D CEREC method is a modern and economical system that dental professionals and patients appreciate.
Dental Crown FAQs
Do you have questions about dental crowns or bridges? Continue reading to find answers to questions that patients frequently ask us about crowns and bridges in our office.
How long will I be numb?
Your lips, teeth, cheek, and/or tongue may be numb for several hours after the procedure. To avoid injury, you should avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness completely wears off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue, cheek, or lip while you are numb.
Is it normal for my gums or jaw to be sore?
Irritation of the gum tissue can occur from dental work. Rinsing your mouth 2 to 3 times per day with 1⁄2 tsp of warm salt water can help to alleviate discomfort. Injection sites can be sore for several days after your appointment. Over-the-counter pain medications work well to alleviate the tenderness.
My bite feels off; is this normal?
If your bite feels uneven, please call our office so we can make a quick adjustment to the temporary or final repair. Do not assume your bite will get better over time. If you do not address it, you may feel irritation and a toothache. It may also cause an increase in temperature sensitivity in the tooth.
Is it normal for my tooth to be sensitive?
It is normal to experience some sensitivity to heat, cold, sweets, and pressure after your visit. It is common for the sensitivity to last several weeks after treatment. Usually, deeper cavities will be more sensitive. Again, make sure that your bite feels even.
Can I get my teeth whitened after I get a dental crown?
A dental crown cannot be whitened with professional teeth whitening. Therefore, if you undergo a whitening treatment, the color of the crown will not change while the surrounding teeth will whiten. If you are interested in whitening your teeth, we suggest doing it before having the dental crown placed.