Dr. William C. Strupp is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Dental Crowns and Bridges.
Q. What are dental crowns and bridges?
A. Crowns are restorations used to restore teeth that have suffered disease or fracture. They can be partial or full, made of tooth colored materials or gold. Bridges are restorations used to replace missing teeth. They can be fixed or removable. Implants with appropriate restorations are also used to replace missing teeth and are preferable to bridges.
Q. Why do crowns fail?
A. The primary causes of failure are:
- the patient’s improper preventive dental care, including diet; acid reflux or regurgitation disorders;
- trauma;
- the age of the restoration and poorly executed dentistry.
- Iatrogenic dentistry (dentistry that causes pathology) causes infections that often result in the loss of teeth and crowns.
In addition, these infections have been correlated to diseases that are potentially life threatening such as heart attack and stroke.
Q. How are crowns and bridges made?
A. Dental laboratory technicians and dentists make these restorations using a variety of techniques, which range from lost wax casting to computer machining. Complex cosmetic cases require a master ceramist for maximum cosmetic results.
Q. How long do crowns and bridges last?
A. The lifespan of a restoration is dependent on numerous factors. They include:
(i) the degree to which the patient practices preventive dentistry such as diet (acid containing drinks and sugar coupled with not brushing and flossing properly to remove plaque cause early failures),
(ii) the general health of the patient including the drugs they must take (acid reflux and dry mouth accelerate failures),
(iii) trauma from use, and
(iv) the level of skill of the dentist placing the dentistry.
I tell my patients that the cosmetic life expectancy of a restoration is 10 to 15 years with the functional life expectancy even greater. Ceramic restorations are made of glass and glass breaks. The average failure rate for ceramic restorations in my practice is 5% over a ten- year time frame. No fee charge or a laboratory fee charge is made in my practice to replace fractured ceramic restorations. I have placed gold restorations that are still functional after 43 years and are still in good condition.
Q. Is the procedure painful?
A. There should be no pain with any aspect of dentistry with the exception of post operative surgical pain. Crown & bridge dentistry is not painful. Holding one’s mouth open for extended periods of time can be stressful and tiring, but the proper use of medications can make this element of dentistry much easier for the patient and the dentist.
Q. How do I take care of my dental crowns and bridges?
A. Perfect plaque control on a daily basis by brushing and flossing is mandatory along with proper diet and fluoride use at home. Having your teeth cleaned professionally every 3 months is also essential.
Q. Are the non-metal crowns as strong as metal crowns?
A. No, but they are infinitely more cosmetic.
Q. How to contact Dr. Strupp if we have further questions?
A. Office telephone: 727-799-1011
Email: bill@strupp.com
Web site: www.strupp.com
