Dental Crowns and Bridges- How are they different?
Dental crowns and bridges are used to restore both damaged or missing teeth, but they treat different scenarios. They are often discussed together because of their virtually identical procedures, however, a crown mostly treats damaged teeth while a bridge treats missing teeth.
A crown allows for covering and restoring the damaged tooth while avoiding extraction. It is a tooth-shaped cap used to cover all surfaces of a misshapen tooth. The crown is cemented in place over the tooth in order to restore it without having to implant any teeth.
A bridge on the other hand, replaces one or more lost teeth by anchoring itself to adjacent teeth. Missing teeth should be treated quickly as they can cause misalignment and more complex dental damage. The most common reasons for a missing tooth are gum disease, tooth decay, and injury. The bridge would fill in the gap caused by missing teeth via artificial teeth and crowns to keep your teeth in their correct place.
What types of dental bridges are available?
The four main types of bridges are:
- Traditional fixed bridge
- Cantilever bridge
- Maryland dental bridge (resin-bonded bridge)
- Implant supported bridge
Creating Your Treatment Plan
Your doctor will help you figure out what option is best for you. Sometimes you may need implants instead of bridges, or some people choose partial dentures. Depending on your situation, Tredi Dental will find the best solution.