Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges Near You
Restorative dentistry helps bring back the strength, function, and appearance of your natural teeth. Whether you’re dealing with a damaged tooth or missing teeth, restorative treatments like fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants play a key role in protecting your oral health and maintaining a confident smile.
By restoring missing or compromised teeth, we help preserve proper alignment, prevent plaque buildup, and support your bite. At Gulati Family Dentistry, we offer custom-made dental crowns and bridges designed to look natural and last for years with proper care.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a protective cap placed over a tooth that has been weakened by decay, cracks, or damage. It covers the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gumline and restores both strength and appearance.
Crowns are available in a variety of materials, including porcelain, gold, acrylic resin, or a combination. Today, many crowns are made from white-based ceramics, with Zirconia being one of the most durable and natural-looking options. For enhanced aesthetics, Zirconia crowns can be layered with porcelain.
The crown process typically involves:
- Numbing the area and removing any decay
- Reshaping the tooth for an ideal crown fit
- Taking impressions to create a custom crown
- Placing a temporary crown while your permanent one is made
- Replacing the temporary with your custom crown once it’s ready
- Cementing the crown after confirming the fit and appearance
This process is usually completed over 2 to 3 visits within a 3 to 4 week period. With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, your crown can last for many years.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth. It restores the gap left behind by missing teeth, improving both function and appearance. Bridges are a great alternative to partial dentures and are custom-designed for a secure and natural fit.
Bridges are typically made from porcelain, alloys, or a combination of materials. Porcelain is often used for visible areas, such as the front teeth, to ensure the restoration blends in with your smile.
The artificial teeth within a bridge are called pontics. These are supported by neighboring teeth, called abutment teeth, or by dental implants, depending on the type of bridge used.
Types of dental bridges include:
- Traditional Fixed Bridge - The most common type, consisting of one or more pontics supported by crowns on either side.
- Resin-Bonded Bridge - Often used for front teeth. It uses a porcelain or metal framework with "wings" that are bonded to the back of adjacent teeth without the need for crowns.
- Implant-Supported Bridge - Implants are surgically placed to support the bridge. This option is ideal when multiple teeth are missing and offers excellent stability.
- Cantilever Bridge - Used when only one adjacent tooth is available. The pontic is supported by a single crown on that tooth.