Montgomery Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dr. William Pendleton 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 tooth bridges?

A. Crowns are a restoration that emcompasses all surfaces of the tooth being restored. When a tooth’s natural tooth structure is minimal, a crown can be needed to hold the tooth together. When a tooth can no longer be filled, a crown may still be an available option to restore the tooth.

A bridge is a series of crowns that are connected to each other which serves to replace a missing tooth. Some of the crowns in the bridge are attached to natural teeth and are known as "retainers". The crowns on the bridge which replace the missing tooth or teeth, and are attached to the reatiner crowns, are known as "pontics".

Q. Why do crowns fail?

A. Crowns may fail for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is recurrent decay. If plaque or sugar gets under the margin of the crown, which is where the crown’s edge meets the natural tooth near the gumline, decay will begin to occur which undermines the natural tooth or buildup restoration that is holding the crown in. The crown will then need to be removed, the decay excavated, the continued restorability of the tooth determined, and either the crown is replaced or other treatments to the tooth may be needed if it is still restorable.

Q. How are crowns and bridges made?

A. Crowns and bridges are made by reducing the tooth or teeth being restored in a way that the reduction is sufficient to place the new restoration and the "preparation" shape will help to retain the new restoration. We then make an impression and bite record which a lab we employ will use to fabricate the crown or bridge. The process takes two visits. We prepare the teeth, take the impression, make a shade selection so that the crown/bridge will match the adjacent teeth and make a temporary restoration as needed. At the second visit, the temporary is removed and the permanant restoration is adjusted and cemented.

Q. How long do crowns and bridges last?

A. On the average, ten years. However, this varies widely depending on the conditions in the oral cavity and, mostly, how clean the patient keeps the restoration and the remaining teeth and gums.

Q. Is the procedure painful?

A. Generally, no. Many patients’ anxieties help contribute to discomforts.
Remember, everybody is different. I have some patients who have these procedures with no anesthetic at all! I have others who need more than a couple injections.

Q. How do I take care of my dental crowns and bridges?

A. Brushing, flossing and rinsing just like you would your natural teeth.
Also, with bridges, flossing under the pontics (the replaced missing tooth) is important.

Q. Are the non-metal crowns as strong as metal crowns?

A. In a word, no. But, recently new materials are making ceramic crowns stronger. Ceramic crowns give an esthetic advantage that many patients prefer.

Q. How to contact Dr. Pendleton if we have further questions?    

A.
Address:
6905 Atlanta Hwy.
Montgomery, AL 36117
Phone: 334-270-1414
Fax: 334-270-0053
Email:drpendleton@pendletondmd.com
Website:http://pendletondmd.com/