Achieve a More Complete Smile
Dealing with tooth loss can have a negative impact on your health and overall confidence. That’s why at Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, Dr. Paul E. Brown and Dr. Christopher S. Baran can fill in your smile’s gaps with dental crowns and bridges. These durable restorations improve the function of teeth that have been damaged due to injury or decay.
Read our guide to learn about dental crowns and bridges as well as see if they may benefit your smile. Our office also serves patients in Pike Creek, Marshallton, and Stanton, DE.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown protects a tooth that has suffered severe damage or decay. These restorations are custom-made using our in-office milling machine while you’re being examined by the dentist. Our team will ensure your dental crown resembles your natural teeth based on impressions we take beforehand. This will ensure a more secure and comfortable fit for your smile that’ll last for many years to come.
The Benefits of Dental Crowns
Our dental crowns come with a host of restorative and cosmetic benefits, such as:
- Non-invasive and requires no surgery
- Made to fit your tooth for maximum comfort
- Available in various shades for your smile
- No need for additional treatment
The Dental Crowns Process
Placing your dental crown can be done on the same day of your visit depending on your preferences. Your dentist can either create your crown with our in-office milling machine or send impressions of your tooth to a lab depending on your oral health. In the meantime, our dentist will prepare your tooth by reshaping it to ensure your crown fits perfectly and provide you with a temporary restoration in the meantime.
You’ll return to either our Wilmington or Seaford, DE office once your crown is ready. Your dentist will remove the temporary crown and clean your tooth. We’ll then insert your restoration to finish the process, as well as provide you with aftercare instructions.
What Are Dental Bridges?
A dental bridge replaces up to four adjacent missing teeth. This treatment uses crowns to support the missing teeth, which are placed on either side of the gap to complete your smile. Dental bridges can even be combined with dental implants to create implant-supported bridges. This restoration improves the look and feel of your natural smile as well as boosts your jawbone strength.
The Benefits of Dental Bridges
This restorative procedure offers a variety of benefits for your smile, such as:
- Improves the look of your smile
- Makes it easier to chew your food
- Boosts your ability to speak clearly
- Supports a person’s facial shape
- Prevents teeth from shifting
The Dental Bridges Process
After your dentist has examined your smile and deemed you an ideal candidate for dental bridges, we’ll take an impression of your teeth. This will be used to develop your custom crowns, which will be placed on your nearby teeth to support the bridge. In the meantime, you’ll be given a temporary crown to protect your treated teeth.
Once your restoration is finished, your dentist will remove the temporary crown to bond the bridge to your teeth using an adhesive. To finish the process, they’ll place the custom crowns on both supporting teeth to keep your restoration in place. Afterward, you’ll leave our office with a dazzling smile that’s sure to last for many years to come if properly maintained.
Our Natural-Looking Restorations
Your custom-designed dental crowns and bridges will be crafted from high-quality materials like porcelain or zirconia. Our team prefers these materials because of their highly lifelike appearance and ability to reflect light. We can have your restorations made to match the color, size, and shape of your natural teeth for seamless integration into your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dental crown or bridge can last between five to 15 years with proper care. Your dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions to ensure your restoration lasts for years to come. These restorations can be treated just like your natural teeth, as long as you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with no abrasive ingredients.
Your dentist can provide you with a replacement restoration if your dental crown or bridge sustains damage. It’s important to not try to repair your restoration on your own, as this may cause even more issues for your teeth. Reach out to your dentist so that they can repair your fixture to help you get back smiling with full confidence.
The best way to know for sure if you’re a candidate for crowns or bridges is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. They’ll evaluate your oral health and review your medical history to determine which procedure is right for you. It’s important to have a healthy gum line and good bone health to fully take advantage of the benefits of these beautiful restorations.
Most insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost of your dental crown or bridge since these procedures are usually done out of medical necessity. Most dentists will recommend that you reach out to your provider directly to get a more accurate understanding of your policy and coverage. That way, your treatment can be made more affordable.
Restore Your Smile With Dental Crowns & Bridges
At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, our dentists can restore your smile’s integrity with dental crowns and bridges. Our team will be here to support you with every step of your smile’s journey to ensure you get the best care possible.
Want the confidence and oral health that comes with a restored set of pearly whites? Contact our Wilmington, DE office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford, DE practice at (302) 536-7589 to schedule your appointment. We also serve patients in Pike Creek, Marshallton, and Stanton, DE.