Crowns and Bridges

What are Dental Bridges?

A bridge replaces a missing tooth. As the name suggests, it bridges the space in the smile. Your dentist can create customized bridges to match your natural teeth’s shade.

Various parts that a bridge is made of include the following:

• Abutments — The structures supporting the dental bridge
• Pontics — Artificial or false teeth that bridge the gap created by missing teeth

A gap in your mouth can impact you in numerous ways, and a dental bridge can address those changes, including the following:

• Restoring your pronunciation and speech
• Restoring your smile
• Maintaining your face’s shape
• Re-adjusting the bite to distribute the force when chewing
• Preventing the rest of your teeth from shifting

Different Kinds of Bridges

Below is a summary of different categories of bridges.

Traditional Bridges

Traditional tooth bridges are the most common form of dental bridges. Dentists use them when a patient’s natural teeth are neighboring a gap or missing tooth on all sides. The bridges have at least one pontic tooth that two (2) abutment teeth hold.

These bridges are made of porcelain fused to metal or ceramic; hence, they are strong and replace molars. On the flip side, to place the dental bridge, the dentist will extract some enamel from your adjacent teeth to make room for the crown on top. Enamel removal is irreversible, and your teeth will always require dental crown protection, even if you use another kind of bridge later on.

Maryland Bridges

Also known as resin-bonded dental bridges, dentists recommend using Maryland bridges to replace front teeth. The bridge uses porcelain or metal bands to bind the pontic tooth to your adjacent natural teeth’s back.

Unlike traditional bridges, the dentist does not have to remove the enamel on adjacent teeth since the bridges do not need crowns to hold them.

The disadvantage of Maryland bridges is that they are not durable and might not stay in place in regions where teeth experience extensive biting force.

Cantilever Dental Bridges

Dentists attach cantilever bridges to an abutment tooth but on a single side. These bridges require enamel removal on the adjacent tooth before placement.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

As the name implies, implant-supported bridges use dental implants. Dentists surgically place an implant for every missing tooth, and the implants hold the bridge in place. If it is impossible to place one implant, the dental bridge may have a pontic fixed between two implant-supported dental crowns.

Dental Bridge Placement Procedure

The placement procedure depends on your dental bridge of choice.

Cantilever or Traditional Bridges

The procedure involves your dentist:

• Administering local anesthesia to help you relax during the procedure
• Reshaping the abutment teeth by removing a small amount of tooth enamel
• Taking your impressions and transfering them to the dental lab, where a laboratory technician will use the impressions to make the final bridge
• Placing your temporary bridge as the lab technician creates the final bridge

During your next dental appointment, your dental professional will remove the temporary bridge, place the final bridge, and gauge how it fits before cementing it.

Implant-Supported Bridge Placement

Placing your implant-supported bridge requires numerous dental appointments.

During your initial appointment, your dentist will administer anesthesia and place implants into the jaw in an oral surgical procedure. Following the surgery, the implant should recover and fuse into the jawbone. The process can take between three and six months.

After the implants have fused, the dental professional will:

• Attach impression copings to the tooth implants to take your impressions
• Transfer the dental impressions to a dental laboratory
• Remove your abutment as you await for the technician to make your implant-supported bridge

After the final implant-supported bridge is ready, the dentist will fix the implant abutment, attach the bridge to the implant and ensure it fits. Finally, they will use tiny screws or dental cement to secure the bridge.

How Much Do Dental Bridges Cost?

Authority Dental says the average cost of dental bridges ranges between $1,500 and $16,000. Cantilever and traditional bridges cost about $2,500, while implant-supported bridges cost $5,500.

The total cost of dental bridges depends on numerous factors, including the following:

• The number of missing teeth — A bridge that replaces at least one tooth is more costly.
• The material you use — Porcelain is more costly than other options.
• The kind of dental bridge you choose — Implant-supported bridges are the most expensive.
• Geographic location — Bridges cost less in rural areas.
• Your dentist’s reputation and experience — Specialized or seasoned dentists might charge more for their services.
• Work your dentist needs to do on your supporting teeth — If you have a tooth cavity, the dentist will address that first. That will increase the overall estimate.
• Associated costs — You might also pay for tooth extraction, local anesthesia, professional cleaning, oral examination, or dental X-rays for your dental bridge.

Dental Bridges and Insurance

Whether insurance covers bridges depends on the oral health plan.

While private dental health insurance covers half of most restorative treatments like bridges, your coverage’s maximum lifetime or annual benefit applies. Therefore, you will pay the remaining amount if your covered cost surpasses the plan’s maximum benefit.

If you have an annual benefit, you might be required to delay additional treatment until the policy resets. If you meet a lifetime maximum, you will pay out of pocket for every other dental procedure in that category, provided you have the same dental health insurance plan.

Additionally, some policies restrict the number of dental bridges you may receive within a specific duration. For example, you could be restricted to a bridge every three years.

Note that original Medicare does not cater for most dental procedures. Nevertheless, most Medicare Advantage plans allow patients to purchase a different dental plan or offer dental coverage.

What are Dental Crowns?

A tooth crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that dentists place over a tooth to cover it and restore its strength, size, and shape. When cemented, the crown encases the tooth’s visible part above and on your gum.

Your dentist can recommend dental crowns in any of the situations below:

• To prevent your weak tooth from disintegrating or holding together pieces of your cracked tooth
• To restore a broken tooth or severely worn down
• To support a bridge
• To cover an implant
• To cover very discolored or misshapen teeth
• To cover and support a tooth with a huge filling when there is less tooth left

For your child, the dentist can recommend a crown to do the following:

• To save severely damaged teeth that they cannot support fillings
• To safeguard a minor’s teeth at high risk of cavities, mainly when the juvenile has challenges maintaining proper oral hygiene

Various Types of Tooth Crowns

Since there are numerous forms of tooth crowns, the ideal type for you depends mainly on your dental health needs and personal preferences. The section below discusses the different types.

Metal crowns

Technicians use metals like palladium, chromium, nickel, and gold to make tooth crowns. The benefits of metal crowns are that they are durable, do not break or chip, require minimal enamel removal, and can withstand chewing and biting forces. On the other hand, the color of this kind of crown is not appealing to the eye.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

PFM dental crowns integrate porcelain’s natural appearance and metal’s durability. Your dentist can match the crowns to your teeth’s shade. Your dentist can use them to restore both your back and front teeth.

Although durable, these crowns can gradually wear down your opposing teeth’s enamel. The porcelain coating can also chip off over time, exposing the metal underneath.

All-Resin Tooth Crowns

Tooth crowns are made of resin and are less costly than other dental crowns. However, they are fragile.

Typically, dentists use these crowns to make temporary dental crowns.

Same-Day Tooth Crowns

Dentists use computer-aided design and manufacturing technology to create dental crowns in their facilities as patients wait. The software permits medical practitioners to take the patients’ digital impressions and then use the impressions to create custom crowns. Next, the doctor will send the image to a milling machine to craft the new dental crown from a ceramic block.

The primary benefit of these crowns is that you get your crowns in one dental office appointment. Nevertheless, these crowns are not for everyone, and you must ask your skilled dentist whether you qualify.

Porcelain or All-Ceramic Tooth Crowns

Porcelain crowns resemble your natural tooth’s enamel and are a perfect choice if you are allergic to metal.

Laboratory technicians use various materials to make the crowns, but zirconium dioxide is the most popular. Zirconia dental crowns are durable and withstand heavier forces than other ceramic dental crowns.

Pressed Ceramic Dental Crowns

Although identical to a PFM, a pressed ceramic tooth crown has a ceramic core instead of a metallic one. A technician melts and presses ceramic in an oven at a high temperature to make the core. Finally, they add several layers of porcelain.

These crowns resemble the natural tooth enamel translucency. The disadvantage of pressed ceramic dental crowns is that the ceramic layers can chip away over time.

What Occurs During Your Dental Crowns Placement Procedure

The procedure will require one or two dental appointments.

During your initial visit, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing a layer of the enamel and shaping it. They will administer anesthesia to make you comfortable and relaxed during the treatment.

Then, the physician will take an impression of your tooth. They can use a digital scanner or an impression pressed into a mould.

Next, they will send the details to a laboratory technician to create a custom crown. The technician can match the dental crown to your natural teeth’s color.

A crown made by a Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics machine can be fitted and created on the same day. However, if a technician makes your crown in the lab, the dentist will cover the affected tooth using a temporary crown. It can take about three weeks to create the crown.

Once the permanent crown is ready, you should return for your second dental appointment. The dental professional will place the crown using dental adhesive or cement.

Note that you can experience the following complications after the procedure:

• Tooth sensitivity
• Altered speech as you adjust to your teeth’s new shape
• Inflammation or infection of the treatment area
• Bleeding

What is the Price of Tooth Crowns?

Without dental health insurance, one dental crown costs between $800 and $2,500. The cost varies depending on the specific material used. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:

• All ceramic — Zirconia or all-ceramic dental crowns cost from $1,000 to $2,500, with an approximate price of $1,300.
• Porcelain — A porcelain fused to a metal dental crown costs between $800 and $2,400
• Metal — The price depends on the specific alloy used. For instance, a gold alloy crown is more expensive than a base metal alloy like nickel-titanium, nickel-chromium, or cobalt-chromium.

Dental Crowns and Insurance

Typically, dental health insurance includes medically necessary dental crowns and pays approximately fifty-percent of the total cost. Many insurance policies have waiting durations of a few months to a year before offering significant dental benefits.

Original Medicare only covers treatment that happens in a hospital. Most Medicare Advantage plans offer more comprehensive dental coverage. Additional cost-sharing and premiums are often needed. The exact percentages and prices depend on whether the treatment is performed out-of-network or in-network.

Tips on How to Take Care of Your Dental Bridges and Crowns

Dental bridges and crowns improve your smile and support your general and oral health. Following proper care guidelines keeps them in excellent condition, ensuring their comfort and longevity and permitting you to enjoy every benefit they offer. The key to taking care of your tooth bridges and crowns includes doing the following:

• Brushing your teeth — Clean your bridge or crown and the nearby teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Brushing removes food particles and plaque that can accumulate around your crown or bridge.
• Flossing — Flossing removes food particles stuck between your teeth. Ensure you use a super floss or floss threader tailored for dental bridges and crowns. The tools permit you to clean beneath the crowns and bridges effectively. Ensure you floss once a day; it prevents decay and gum disease around the bridge or crown. To avoid pulling off your bridge or crown when flossing, slide out your flossing material instead of lifting it out.
• Do not use your teeth as tools — Avoid using your teeth to bite fingernails, open crown corks and packages, and bite your fingernails. Doing so will damage your dental crowns or bridges, and natural teeth.
• Use mouthwash — While not a replacement for daily flossing and brushing, using mouthwash/mouth rinse can be a vital addition to your daily oral hygiene routine. Mouthwash reaches areas not easily accessed by a toothbrush. It also kills bacteria that could damage your dental crown or bridge and cause gum diseases and cavities.
• Regular dental check-ups — You should visit your dentist twice a year. During the visit, your dental professional will use specialized equipment to remove plaque and tartar that flossing and brushing might miss. The dentist will also monitor the condition of your dental crown or bridge to identify potential issues; early detection can prevent the development of serious challenges later on.
• Watch your diet — Avoid sticky, hard, cold, or hot foods. It is also wise to chew less on the affected side of the mouth and use the opposite side more. It will lower the possibility of damaging or dislodging your dental crown or bridge. Also, limit your intake of dark-colored beverages and foods to prevent discoloration.
• Avoid smoking
• Managing discomfort — If you experience discomfort with the dental crown or bridge, address it promptly. Numerous factors can lead to discomfort and knowing how to manage it can result in a better experience.

Find a Knowledgeable General Dentist Near Me

Bridges and crowns are two effective and popular options to restore missing or damaged teeth. These treatments offer both functional and cosmetic benefits. Calabasas Smiles Advanced Dentistry is your trusted partner for maintaining and realizing optimal oral health; we offer comprehensive restorative treatments that address numerous dental concerns. We can assess your case to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for bridges or crowns and guide you through the best treatment option.