What’s the Difference Between Crowns and Bridges?
Living with a damaged smile isn’t easy. Along with impacting your appearance, damaged teeth can make it harder to chew, cause pain, and impact your oral and overall health. For this reason, treating dental problems sooner rather than later is important. At Mayfaire Family Dentistry, Dr. Overton and his team can help you maintain a healthy smile with our restorative dental treatments, including crowns and bridges. Here’s what you should know about the differences between the two before scheduling your next appointment.
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What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a “cap” placed over a damaged tooth. It is used to strengthen weak teeth, protect teeth that are likely to experience further damage, and/or improve the appearance of imperfect teeth. There are many types of dental crowns available, depending on the location of the damaged tooth, including:
- Porcelain
- Zirconia
- Resin
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal
- Metal
- Stainless steel
Crowns are dental restorations used to treat various oral health issues. At Mayfaire Family Dentistry, we are proud to provide dental crown services for the following:
- Teeth that have undergone root canal
- Cavities that are too big for normal fillings
- Tooth appearance problems
- Missing teeth that are replaced with a dental implant
What Are Dental Bridges?
A dental bridge is an appliance used to replace a missing tooth. They work by placing two dental crowns on existing teeth on either side of the missing tooth. These crowns support the prosthetic tooth (or teeth), filling the gap. As with dental crowns, many dental bridges are made of different materials and can be used for different purposes.
The types of dental bridges we provide at Mayfaire Family Dentistry include the following:
- Traditional Bridge: This is the most popular type of bridge that consists of a false tooth held in place by two dental crowns on either side of it.
- Cantilever Bridge: This is made up of a false tooth held in place by one dental crown placed over an abutment tooth.
- Maryland Bridge: This uses two abutment teeth to hold a false tooth in place. However, a metal or porcelain framework bonded on the back of the abutment teeth is used instead of dental crowns.
- Implant-Supported Bridge: This uses dental implants rather than crowns to hold a false tooth into place.
What Are the Main Differences Between Crowns and Bridges?
Ultimately, dental crowns and bridges are used for different purposes. A dental crown may be an appropriate restorative dental treatment if you have a tooth that is still intact but prone to endure further damage due to a cavity, fracture, or other oral health concern. On the other hand, if you have a severely damaged tooth or one that is missing, a dental bridge supported by one or two dental crowns may be the best option to replace the missing tooth.
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What General Dentistry Services Are Offered at Mayfaire Family Dentistry?
Even with the best at-home oral hygiene routine, dental problems can happen to anyone. If you experience an oral health concern, Dr. Overton can help restore your smile’s function, comfort, and appearance quickly and conveniently. Some of the most common general dentistry services he provides include:
- Tooth-Colored Fillings
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Dentures
- Extractions
- Root Canal Therapy
Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment at Mayfaire Family Dentistry
If you have a damaged or missing tooth, don’t wait to seek professional dental care. At Mayfaire Family Dentistry, we can help restore the health and well-being of your smile in as little as one convenient appointment. Contact us today to learn more about how a crown or bridge could benefit you and to schedule your next restorative dentistry appointment with our friendly team!