Crowns and bridges make it easy to repair or replace damaged, decaying, and extracted teeth. At Smile By the Station Dentistry in Seattle, Washington, cosmetic and family dentist Ok Kyu Lee, DDS, and the team regularly restore smiles with crowns and bridges. The team uses tooth-colored restorations that look natural and blend in with your smile. Call Smile By the Station Dentistry today to schedule a crowns and bridges consultation, or book your appointment online.
Crowns and bridges both restore your smile, but they do it in different ways:
Crowns are custom porcelain caps bonded on top of damaged or severely decaying teeth. The crown envelops your tooth enamel above the gumline and restores your biting and chewing abilities. Crowns typically repair molars –– the teeth at the very back of your mouth.
Bridges help “bridge” a gap in your smile. They have a false tooth (pontic) and two crowns or a metal framework. The pontic fills the space where your tooth used to be, and the crowns or metal framework hold the bridge in place.
Make a crowns and bridges appointment at Smile By the Station Dentistry if you have a:
The team also uses crowns to cover dental implants and complete root canal therapy.
Getting a crown or a bridge at Smile By the Station Dentistry takes two visits several weeks apart.
If your provider determines you can benefit from a crown or a bridge, they numb your mouth with a local anesthetic.
If you’re getting a crown, your provider removes some enamel from the top and sides of your tooth and takes digital scans. Alternatively, if you need a bridge, your provider removes a thin layer of enamel from the abutment teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. Then, they take digital scans and send them to a dental lab.
The dental lab creates a custom crown or bridge. When your custom restoration is ready, you return to Smile By the Station Dentistry. Your provider bonds your crown or bridge in place, checks your bite, and provides care instructions.
Crowns and bridges last 10-12 years on average* but often last longer with proper care. The Smile By the Station Dentistry team recommends brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing regularly, and visiting the office every six months for professional teeth cleaning and an oral exam.
Call Smile By the Station Dentistry today to schedule a crowns and bridges appointment, or book your visit online.
*Results may vary.