Crowns and Bridges

A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth. The Elevate Dental team will typically use a crown to restore a tooth that has been damaged, but they can also be used for cosmetic purposes in order to improve the appearance of a smile. A crown can be made in three different materials, all-metal, ceramic-on-metal, and all-ceramic. Where the crown is located will determine the best material to use. For example, front teeth should have an all-ceramic crown, if possible, since it looks the most natural. Patients throughout California will often use ceramic-on-metal crowns since they look natural but have the durability that only metal can provide.

A dental bridge is a way to replace a missing tooth. At Elevate Dental we provide clients with dental bridges if they want to replace a tooth without wearing dentures or undergoing surgery. The new tooth is held in place by two crowns. It looks natural and is made out of a ceramic or porcelain material to match the surrounding teeth. As experienced cosmetic dentists, the team will make sure that the new tooth looks and feels amazing. This is a popular option for patients throughout the Temecula area.

Before the Procedure
If you are getting dental crowns or a dental bridge for cosmetic reasons, we recommend that you whiten your teeth first. At Elevate Dental we offer teeth whitening procedures that can improve the appearance of your smile quickly and easily. It is important to have this procedure done first because the material that crowns and bridges are made out of are both stain and bleach resistant. That means that if it is created to match yellow teeth, it will remain yellow even if you have your teeth whitened at a later date. When you have the procedure done first, your new crown or bridge will be made to match your new brilliantly white teeth.

When preparing for the procedure, we recommend that patients throughout California take a day off of work. If possible, you may want to take a couple of days off. It is normal for teeth to be somewhat sensitive, and it is easier if you don’t have to worry about meeting clients and keeping up with your busy schedule.

The Process
When getting dental crowns and dental bridges installed, it is advisable that you work with an experienced cosmetic dentist that knows how to complete the procedure in a way that looks natural. At Elevate Dental we can do so while also keeping our patients completely comfortable by using sedation dentistry procedure. The process for both procedures is fairly similar. Before getting started, an impression is taken of the teeth so that the new crown or bridge can be created in a dental lab.

When placing a dental crown around a tooth, Elevate Dental starts by preparing the tooth. A portion of the enamel needs to be removed so that there is room for the new crown to surround the tooth without pushing other teeth out of place. Once this is done, the tooth is cleaned a temporary crown is secured to it using removable glue. Patients typically wear a temporary crown for around two weeks while waiting for a permanent one to be created in the lab. During this time, it is important to be careful with what you eat and how you brush your teeth since the temporary is designed to come off.

When the dental Restoratives are done being created by the lab, patients come back to our Temecula, CA dentist office, so that the temporaries can be removed and the permanent ones bonded to the tooth. When getting a crown, this cap is secured around the tooth and once bonded in place the procedure is complete. With a bridge, a crown is placed on the two teeth that are surrounding the missing one. On top of the crown is a piece that looks like natural gums that holds the new tooth in place. These two crowns serve as anchors for this synthetic “bridge” and makes a new tooth as durable as it can be. Patients throughout the Temecula area depend on this procedure as a way to replace missing teeth in a way that looks natural and restores the functionality of the missing tooth.

After the Procedure
When getting dental Restoratives, your teeth will be somewhat sensitive after they have been prepared. This is why you need to wear a temporary crown while waiting for a permanent one to be created. We use sedation dentistry to ensure that you won’t experience any discomfort during the procedure and after the fact you simply need to take some oral pain medication for a couple of days until you feel better.

The benefit of wearing a crown is that it surrounds and protects the tooth. This means that regardless of how damaged the tooth was, you can eat your favorite foods without fear of discomfort. A crown can restore the functionality of your mouth by making it easy to eat, drink and speak like normal. This is ideal for people that are suffering from severely sensitive teeth, have a cracked or chipped tooth or have undergone a root canal. Similarly, a bridge makes it possible to eat and speak like normal without worrying about your new tooth becoming loose or falling out. They are both ideal for people that have active lifestyles and don’t want to be constrained by their teeth. To find out if the procedure is right for you, call 951-699-4440 to schedule an appointment with Elevate Dental and discuss your options. At Elevate Dental we make it easier for patients throughout Temecula to have a beautiful and functional smile.