Crowns & Bridges

Stroudsburg PA Family Dentistry Crowns and Bridges

Stroudsburg Family Dental crowns and bridges are prosthetics meant to make your smile appear healthier and more visually appealing.  While a crown is made to cover a cracked, decayed, or otherwise damaged tooth - a dental bridge is made to take the place of a lost tooth, thereby filling-in unwanted gaps.

Stroudsburg Family Dental uses all porcelain bridges unless there is a compelling reason otherwise. When properly seated, porcelain bridges are as strong or stronger than their metal predecessor and offer an appearance more identical to that of your natural tooth.  Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues, and even improve your speech. If you have one or more missing teeth and maintain good oral hygiene, you should discuss this procedure with Dr. Iglio. If spaces are left unfilled, they may cause the surrounding teeth to drift out of position.  Additionally, spaces from missing teeth can cause your other teeth and your gums to become far more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

Dental crowns can be constructed from a variety of materials including gold, full metal, porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, and porcelain.  Porcelain crowns are necessary when a tooth is broken down or a cavity affects enough surfaces to need full coverage. If a tooth is cracked, the crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks and prevent further damage.  Crowns are also used to support a large filling when there isn’t enough of the tooth remaining, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth.

Q: WHY WOULD I NEED A DENTAL CROWN?

There are times when a tooth has damage too big for fillings. It could be a cavity that grew too large, or damage from an accident like a chip or crack. In these cases, we can use a dental crown. Shaped like a real tooth, a crown is a cap that covers the visible part of a tooth. Any tooth damage is sealed up and the tooth is held tightly together so any cracks won’t grow. 

Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A CROWN?

In our office, getting a dental crown takes only two visits. The procedure is fairly simple: Dr. Iglio will first remove a thin layer of enamel so the crown fits in properly with the rest of your teeth. Careful measurements are made to make the crown, ensuring it looks right and fits properly. We use one of the best labs to create your crown, which usually takes around 2 weeks. At your second appointment, your permanent dental crown will be placed over your tooth.

Q: ARE DENTAL BRIDGES A GOOD IDEA FOR REPLACING TEETH?

Stroudsburg Family Dental believes in giving you choices in your dental care. What works for one person might not work as well for others. When you are missing a tooth, a dental implant is a great choice - however you need to have healthy bone tissue under the gap or the dental implant will not work. If you do not have enough bone tissue to support an implant a dental bridge is a great option. This technique uses a pair of dental crowns, one on each tooth next to the gap, to hold a replacement tooth securely in that space. No surgery is needed.

Q: HOW CAN CROWNS PROTECT DAMAGED TEETH?

When a tooth has extensive damage - such as a cavity that has been ignored for far too long, more should be considered than just the damage itself.  Specifically, the tooth could be in danger of fracturing and exposing all the nerves in the pulp. To save the tooth and make sure you can eat with it pain-free, dental crowns are your best option. A crown is basically a cap that is made to look and feel like one of your healthy teeth and fits snugly over the damaged tooth.

Q: WHAT TYPES OF CROWNS COULD I GET?

Which type of crown would work best for you depends on several factors including which tooth needs the crown, your gums, the cost, and more.  At Stroudsburg Family Dental, we offer three types of dental crowns:

  1. Porcelain: These crowns are great for your front teeth, as they will look like the enamel on your current teeth. A small amount of enamel will be removed to make room for this cap.
  2. Porcelain fused to metal: The same tooth-colored porcelain is used, but it’s fused to metal underneath. This is stronger than full porcelain but often requires removing a bit more enamel.
  3. Full gold: This is a mix of gold and other alloys to provide a durable crown that won’t hurt your gums or nearby teeth.

Q: WHY MIGHT I NEED A BRIDGE IN MY MOUTH?

When you’re missing a tooth, your smile looks bad and you could have trouble eating the foods you love. Normally, we recommend getting a dental implant to replace the tooth. But for some patients with thin or unhealthy jawbones, a dental implant is too risky. That’s where a dental bridge can come in handy. These are replacement teeth held firmly in the gap by a pair of dental crowns on the teeth next to that space.

Q: WHAT ARE DENTAL INLAYS AND ONLAYS USED FOR?

Cavities are corroded areas in your enamel and are caused by harmful bacteria. In effect, they are holes or craters in your teeth. Unless this damage is cleaned and sealed, it will continue to grow worse. Fillings are often used to treat cavities, but for some people, inlays and onlays are the better choice. Inlays and onlays are made from a durable material that looks like your natural enamel and seals up cavities.