Dental Bridges and Crowns
Dental Crowns and Bridges
Member of the ADA | Over 25 Years of Experience | Latest Dental Technology
Member of the ADAOver 25 Years of ExperienceLatest Dental Technology
Restore Your Smile With The Following Treatments
Prevent Tooth Loss With a Dental Crown
If you have a chipped or cracked tooth, you may need a dental crown to repair the damage and prevent serious oral infections or tooth loss.
Porcelain crowns have been used for decades to cover a damaged tooth down to the gum line. Visiting a dentist for crowns was once a messy and time-consuming process which required at least two visits.
Today, Dr. Lapierre offers a new method of tooth restoration which are single-visit and same-day CEREC crowns. CEREC stands for “Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics.”
With this process, cutting-edge CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing) technology captures and duplicates the intricacies of each tooth.
This imaging allows Dr. Lapierre to quickly take dental impressions and generate a perfect crown in one visit, which can save you time and money. Plus, there is no need for temporary crowns required with older technology.
Because CEREC crowns are hard to distinguish from natural teeth, the result is a natural-looking smile. We’ll match your natural tooth shade, and there are no distracting metal or color variances.
Finally, CEREC crowns are durable. They can last up to 15 years with proper at-home and in-office care. If needed, CEREC crowns can also be used in place of a large filling, after a root canal treatment, or on top of a dental implant.
You'll be glad to know that we also provide emergency services. If you need tooth restoration solutions, contact
us today!
Repair Your Cracked Teeth with Dental Crowns
If your tooth needs a repair, let the experts at James M. Lapierre, D.D.S., Inc. fix it with a dental crown. A crown is a secure covering that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant.
Crowns remain above the surface, not affecting any existing root or bone. It will often be fitted to repair a cracked, chipped, weak or broken tooth, or one that is severely worn down.
For children, a crown can also save a damaged tooth and protect it from further decay. Kid's teeth are not always able to support decay, damage, or even a filling. Crowns fill that need.
Pediatric dentistry typically uses stainless steel crowns, simply because they are the most affordable for a temporary fix. As the child’s tooth develops, the tooth will eventually outgrow the crown and will need a more permanent replacement.
Metal crowns are a popular choice for crowns in the back of your mouth. They are more affordable and durable compared to other materials, but their gold or platinum color is not aesthetically pleasing.
For this reason, metal is typically reserved for out-of-sight issues. Porcelain-fused-to-metal is one of the most natural-looking options available but the quality fails in comparison to other materials.
The durability is poor, often leading to chipping or breakage. The metal core may also show through the porcelain, creating noticeable dark lines within your smile.
All-ceramic, also called all-porcelain crowns are often the most popular option because of their natural appearance and their ability to cover metal. These crowns are used for the most visible parts of your mouth.
A Crown Serves the Following Purposes
- Prevents decay
- Supports a weakened tooth
- Protects tooth breakage
- Fixes extreme wear
- Provides support and reinforcement
- Anchors a dental bridge into place
- Covers a dental implant
Dental Bridges to Replace Missing Teeth
Get your smile and confidence restored by counting on the professionals at James M. Lapierre, D.D.S., Inc. A dental bridge can replace one or more missing teeth and help restore your smile, improve your speaking and chewing abilities, and raise your confidence level.
A dental bridge uses surrounding teeth known as abutments to support a false replacement tooth, called a pontic. A pontic is like a crown, except it has no root.
Abutments, which are your healthy teeth, will require crowns to stabilize them and make them strong enough to support the pontic.
The number of crowns you need will depend on how many teeth you are missing. Just one missing tooth means you will need three crowns to support your bridge – two pontics and one abutment. Together, they will create a three-unit bridge.
To determine the best course of action for your situation, Dr. Lapierre will consider:
- How many teeth are missing
- The location of missing teeth
- The amount of support given from each abutment tooth
- The amount of bone left below the surface in the root
- The size and length of the root for each tooth
Your bridgework will likely be split between two appointments. We’ll capture 3D images of your mouth during your first appointment and give you a temporary bridge while your permanent one is being made.
At your second appointment, we will cement your permanent bridge into place. Anesthesia will always be provided to minimize any discomfort.
After you receive your bridge, expect a short adjustment period while you adjust to the feel of it in your mouth. Most patients report a simple transition process.
While incredibly durable and long-lasting, bridgework does require a little extra attention during your daily hygiene. Dr. Lapierre and our team will review care instructions and recommend more frequent follow-up appointments.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are lab-made restorations that are placed on teeth when the cavity or lost tooth structure is too large to be restored by a simple filling. The process of making an inlay is very similar to a crown. After the tooth is prepared, it is cemented or bonded to the tooth.
There are different materials that inlays are made of, including gold, porcelain, and composite resins. Porcelain and composite inlays and onlays are cosmetic alternatives to fillings and are very strong compared to regular white fillings.
Gold inlays and onlays are also suitable alternatives, but their appearance makes them less popular. Our qualified dentists will explain when an inlay or onlay is a viable treatment option for you.
In general, inlays and onlays can replace most back teeth fillings and are sometimes cosmetically preferred over conventional fillings. At the same time, they are more conservative than crowns.
Since the process of making an inlay or onlay is similar to a crown, their costs are comparable, but when considering the longevity of inlays and onlays, they can end up costing less than traditional fillings.
Our skilled and knowledgeable team of dentists are dedicated to giving each of our patients the healthy smile they deserve! Call
us today for more information.
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