Dental Crowns and Bridges | Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is the term dental professionals use to describe treatments that repair or replace missing or damaged teeth. Fillings, crowns ("caps"), bridges, and implants are common restorative procedures. At Barclay Family Dental, we provide dental crowns and bridges in Cherry Hill, NJ, to help patients restore damaged teeth and replace missing teeth. The goal is to bring back your natural smile and help prevent future oral health issues. Dental crowns and bridges can help maintain proper tooth alignment, restore chewing function, and improve the appearance of your smile. Our restorative dental treatments are designed to address each patient's individual dental needs.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a custom-made cover that fits over a natural tooth that has been decayed, damaged, or cracked. It is designed to cover the visible portion of the tooth above the gumline. If you are wondering what a dental crown is, it is a restoration used to protect and restore the shape, strength, and function of a damaged tooth. Patients who need a crown for a cracked tooth or a dental crown for a decayed tooth may benefit from this treatment. Dental crowns are made from various materials, such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin, or combinations of materials. Options may include porcelain dental crowns, gold dental crowns, ceramic dental crowns, zirconia dental crowns, or tooth-colored crowns. Porcelain offers a natural appearance, although durability varies depending on the material and treatment requirements.
Many crowns today are made using tooth-colored ceramic materials. Zirconia ceramic is known for its strength and durability, and zirconia frameworks may be combined with porcelain to achieve aesthetic results. If you are searching for dental crowns in Cherry Hill, NJ, or need custom dental crown placement, our team can walk you through the process. The treatment plan for a crown generally involves:
- Numbing your tooth to minimize discomfort while removing any decay or damaged tooth structure.
- Shaping your tooth to provide an appropriate fit for the dental crown, also known as tooth preparation for a crown.
- Taking an impression of your teeth to create a custom-made crown, also known as the dental crown impression process. Traditional laboratory fabrication may take one to two weeks.
- Making a temporary crown from acrylic resin or another suitable material and fitting it onto your affected tooth. This is the temporary dental crown placement stage.
- Placing the custom-made crown after removing the temporary restoration and checking its fit, appearance, and bite.
- Once the crown has the proper fit and appearance, our dentist cements it into place, completing the permanent dental crown placement.
This step-by-step dental crown procedure generally consists of two to three visits over approximately three to four weeks, although the timeline varies depending on the patient's needs and crown fabrication process. If you are wondering how many visits are needed for a dental crown, our team can explain the expected treatment schedule during your consultation.
Once the tooth crown procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy teeth, gums, and crowns. This supports dental crown care and maintenance and helps reduce the risk of gum disease and additional tooth decay. With proper care, dental crowns can last for many years, although they may eventually need repair or replacement.
During your visit, we can also answer questions such as how dental crowns work, how long dental crowns last, and what to expect during crown treatment. Patients looking for dental crown treatment near Voorhees, NJ, can contact Barclay Family Dental to discuss available restorative options.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth and serves as an alternative to removable partial dentures. If you are wondering what a dental bridge is, it is a restoration designed to replace missing teeth using support from neighboring teeth or dental implants. At Barclay Family Dental, we offer dental bridges in Cherry Hill, NJ, to help restore the appearance and function of your smile.
Dental bridges are made up of several connected components designed to fit into the open space where your tooth or teeth used to be. A bridge fills the gap created by missing teeth and serves both practical and aesthetic purposes, helping restore chewing, speaking, and smiling. If you want to replace a missing tooth with a bridge, our team can evaluate your oral health and explain whether this approach is suitable.
The bridge itself can be made from different materials, including gold, metal alloys, porcelain, or combinations of materials. Porcelain dental bridges are often selected when replacing visible teeth because they can be designed to match the color of natural teeth. If you are searching for a crown and bridge dentist in Cherry Hill or need a fixed dental bridge for missing teeth, our team can help determine whether crown and bridge treatment is appropriate.
The artificial teeth used in dental bridges are called pontics. If you are wondering what pontics are in dental bridges, you will typically have a pontic for each missing tooth, designed to resemble the shape and size of the original tooth. Pontics replace missing teeth and are anchored to neighboring teeth, called abutment teeth, or to dental implants. These supporting structures help keep the fixed dental bridge restoration stable while restoring function and appearance.
Traditional Fixed Bridge | This is one of the most common types of dental bridges. It typically includes a crown on either side of the pontic or pontics, supported by natural teeth adjacent to the missing tooth space. A traditional fixed dental bridge may be recommended when suitable supporting teeth are available on both sides of the gap.
Resin-Bonded Bridge | This type of bridge is often used to replace certain front teeth. Instead of full crowns, it uses porcelain or metal frameworks with wings that are bonded to the back of neighboring teeth. A resin-bonded dental bridge may offer a more conservative option in selected cases because it can require less preparation of the adjacent teeth.
Implant-Supported Bridge | Dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone to support a bridge without relying on natural teeth for support. The number and position of implants depend on the number of missing teeth, bone support, and treatment requirements. Once the implants have integrated with the surrounding bone, the bridge is attached to them. An implant-supported dental bridge can be an option for patients replacing multiple missing teeth.
Cantilever Bridge | When only one side of the gap contains a suitable supporting natural tooth, the pontic may be anchored by a crown on that tooth. A cantilever dental bridge is used in selected situations where the supporting tooth and bite conditions are appropriate.
During your visit, we can explain the dental bridge placement procedure, how dental bridges replace missing teeth, and how they fill gaps in your smile. We can also discuss the difference between a dental crown and a dental bridge, including when each restoration is recommended.
If you are considering dental bridge treatment near Marlton, NJ, or want to compare a dental bridge versus a dental implant, our team can explain the advantages, limitations, expected longevity, and maintenance requirements of each option.
