Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and bridges replicate, restore and protect the structure of your original teeth so you can continue to speak and eat comfortably. Crowns are placed on top of a portion of one tooth, and bridges are used to fill a gap left by a missing tooth.

Crowns and bridges are used to replace natural teeth when they have undergone excessive decay or been damaged by trauma. They restore and protect the structure of your original teeth so they are healthy again and you can continue to speak and eat comfortably.

Crowns are placed on top of a portion of a tooth that needs to be repaired or replaced. Crowns are made to look just like a tooth and used to cover a tooth to help restore it to its normal shape and size. Dr. Angart will likely suggest a crown if a tooth is discolored or badly shaped to restore it back to its normal appearance. If you’re missing a tooth and need to get a dental implant, a crown will likely be used to cover the implant.

Placing a crown on a tooth that needs repair can make it stronger and improve its appearance. A crown can also be used to strengthen a tooth that needs a large filling but there isn’t enough tooth surface to hold the filling securely. Crowns are also used to protect a tooth from breaking, restore one that’s broken, or to attach a bridge.  

Bridges do just what their name implies: they bridge a gap that’s left by one or more missing teeth. To form the bridge, two or more crowns are used to anchor a replacement tooth on either side of the gap. The two teeth on either side of the gap are called abutment teeth, and the false tooth is designed to fit perfectly between them as if it was your natural tooth. The false tooth that’s anchored by the bridge is called a pontic, and it can be made of gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination. If there aren’t two natural teeth on either side of the gap, the bridge can be supported by implants. 

If needed, Dr. Angart will recommend a bridge in order to restore your smile, improve your ability to chew and speak comfortably, protect and maintain the shape of your jaw a face. A crown will also distribute the pressure from chewing evenly across your teeth, and keep your teeth in line to prevent remaining teeth from shifting position.