Dr. Terry Lowitz is a dentist who has answered some common questions that Bizymoms visitors have about Crowns and Tooth Bridges.
Q. What are dental crowns and tooth bridges?
A. Crowns are restorations used to restore badly broken down teeth. They cover the entire crown of the tooth, or portion that sticks out of the gum, and keeps the tooth from breaking or deteriorating more. A bridge is a restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth, and uses crowns to hold it in the mouth.
Q. Is Root Treatment needed before a Crown-Bridge?
A. Root canal treatment is not necessarily needed before a crown is done, but can be needed. If a tooth has had a root canal though, it will usually need a crown.
Q. How are crowns and bridges made?
A. When crowns are made the tooth is shaped for a crown, and then either an impression is made to send to the dental lab, and a temporary crown is placed, and the patient comes back in a few weeks for the permanent crown, or a digital impression is taken, and the crown is designed on a computer, and made right there while the patient waits. Right now, bridges must have either impressions made, or digital impressions made, and sent to the lab, but in the near future, bridges will be constructed in the office as well saving the patient from a second appointment to place the crown.
Q. How long do crowns and bridges last?
A. The amount of time a crown or bridge lasts varies depending on the patient, and how well they take care of their mouth, as well as other factors, but usually it is many years.
Q. Is the procedure painful?
A. The proceedure is very painless with the modern techniques of anesthesia.
Q. How do I take care of my dental crowns and bridges?
A. Taking care of dental crowns and bridges is very easy, you just brush and floss them, and have regular check ups just like the rest of your teeth.
Q. Are the non-metal crowns as strong as metal crowns?
A. Depending on what material they are made of, and how they are cemented in non metal, or ceramic, crowns can be just about as strong as metal crowns.
Q. How can we contact Dr. Lowitz if we have further questions?
A. For further questions, I can be contacted by phone at 513-521-8900, or
email drlowitz@cincinnatidentists.com
