Crowns and Bridges
Your Trusted Dentist in St Joseph, MO.
Crowns & Bridges
Do you have damaged or missing teeth? It’s hard to believe how much a single problematic tooth affects your quality of life. You might find yourself avoiding favorite foods and experiencing pain and discomfort. You also might feel self-conscious about your appearance and be afraid to smile or laugh with confidence.
At the St. Joseph dental office of Dr. Sara Bratton, we recognize the frustrations and challenges posed by missing and damaged teeth. We think you should be able to laugh and smile freely and comfortably, and we offer solutions so you can.
A crown or a bridge might be exactly what you need to restore function to your teeth and feel more like yourself again.
What Is a Crown?
A crown is a durable tooth-shaped shell that fits over the top of your damaged tooth to protect and repair it. Modern crowns are typically made of porcelain and can be customized to look just like your own natural teeth. This means that once the crown is placed, it will blend in beautifully with your other teeth and nobody will need to know that you’ve had dental work done.
We can use crowns to treat a range of dental concerns, including breaks and fractures, extensive decay, fragility caused by root canal therapy, and even severe discoloration. Crowns can also replace missing teeth as part of a dental implant system.
What Is a Bridge?
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by filling in the gaps with pontics, replacement teeth created to look natural and blend in with your other teeth. The pontic is held in place by crowns, which are affixed to the adjacent teeth. Unlike partial dentures, which are designed to be removable, a bridge remains in place.
Top Rated Dentist in St Joseph, MO.
Placing Dental Restorations
The process begins when you visit our office and discuss your needs with Dr. Bratton. She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and explore your options so you both know you’re making the right decision for your dental health. We don’t rush our patients through the decision-making process because we want you to feel confident in the choices you make.
If you and Dr. Bratton agree that a crown is right for you, we’ll start by preparing the affected teeth. Shaping the teeth allows the restoration to fit properly and also removes damaged tooth structure. The next step is taking images which we send to our in- office lab to create same day crowns for our patients. After checking the crown for fit and appearance, the crown is glazed and finished. When you are both happy, your restoration will be cemented into place.
Dental Bridges
The process for making a dental bridge is very similar to the process for making a crown. However, due to the size of the bridge, we send our digital images to a trusted lab for fabrication. Once completed at the lab, the bridge is returned to our office for try-in and cementation. During this period, you will be made a custom temporary bridge to protect the teeth from shifting and to prevent sensitivity. Again, it is checked for fit and appearance and then cemented after both Dr. Bratton and you are happy.
Call for Your Next Appointment
You don’t need to put up with damaged or missing teeth. Give us a call today and we’ll schedule an appointment so you can meet with Dr. Bratton, discuss your options, and smile comfortably once again.