Crowns and bridges are commonly used to restore damaged or lost tooth structure, or decayed teeth. They can help bring back the natural look of your smile, both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. A crown is used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Crowns and caps are actually the same thing. (It’s just two different names for the same thing.) Whether called caps or crowns, they provide the same function — to cover over or to cap over — a damaged tooth. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth — to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Although caps and crowns covered damaged teeth, they do more than provide aesthetics. In reality, crowns and caps make teeth stronger. Plus, provide better alignment and shape, as well.
And about bridges. Why precisely bridges recommended for teeth. becauseof, bridges bridge any gaps occurring between teeth. Bridges are used to prevent gaps from causing problems — particularly in adults. You see, when there’s a gap between teeth, it results in poor biting ability and it promotes harmful conditions such as temporomandibular joint or TMJ. Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, the false teeth in a bridge that join the abutments are referred to as pontics, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. A dental bridge serves as a permanent replacement for missing or damaged teeth. These restorations, typically three or more teeth long, are bonded (or cemented) onto the adjacent natural teeth and are referred to as a FIXED BRIDGE.
An optional treatment for a dental bridge would be to place a PARTIAL DENTURE that is called a REMOVABLE BRIDGE. The advantage of these is that there is no surgical phase or drilling adjacent teeth needed to fabricate one of these. Your dentist can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost. Porcelain or ceramic bridges can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.
