COCOA VILLAGE, FLORIDA
Crowns, bridges and dentures
Restoring teeth that are damaged, worn or missing, so that eating and speaking stop being something you think about.
Restorative work covers everything from rebuilding a single cracked tooth to replacing several missing ones. What the treatments have in common is that they are about function first, getting you back to chewing comfortably and speaking without thinking about it, with the appearance handled properly at the same time rather than as an afterthought.
If you have been managing around a tooth for a while, avoiding one side when you eat or keeping your mouth closed in photographs, that is worth mentioning when you come in. It usually tells us more than the x-ray does.
Dental crowns
When a tooth is cracked, damaged, heavily filled or weakened, there is often not enough sound structure left for a filling to hold. That is usually the case after a large fracture, after root canal treatment, or when an old filling has finally given up and taken part of the tooth with it. A crown covers the tooth completely, protecting what remains and keeping it doing its job.
Modern crowns are made from porcelain or ceramic, matched to the teeth around them, and they are designed to disappear rather than to be noticed. A crowned tooth is a tooth you keep, which is the whole point, since nothing we can replace a tooth with is quite as good as the tooth.
Dental bridges
A bridge replaces a missing tooth by anchoring a replacement to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. It is fixed in place rather than removable, and it is generally quicker and less expensive than an implant, which makes it a sensible option when an implant is not suitable or not wanted.
The trade-off is worth saying plainly. A conventional bridge involves preparing the teeth on either side of the gap, so it uses two healthy teeth to solve a problem with one. Whether that trade-off is right depends on the condition of those neighboring teeth, and we will walk you through it rather than simply recommending the faster option.
Compare with dental implantsDentures and partials
Complete dentures
A full denture replaces all the teeth in an arch, made to fit your mouth specifically and to look natural. If a denture you are already wearing has become loose or uncomfortable, that is worth bringing in. Mouths change shape slowly over the years, and a denture that fit perfectly when it was made can usually be relined or remade rather than endured.
Partial dentures
A partial fills in around the teeth you still have, held by a discreet framework. It is removable, made to fit your mouth specifically, and has improved considerably in the last decade in how it looks and how securely it sits.
Implant-supported dentures
A small number of implants can be used so that the denture is held much more securely, which is worth asking about if a removable denture has never felt stable.
Questions we get asked
How long does a crown take?
Typically two appointments, with a temporary crown in between while the permanent one is made.
Will a crown match my other teeth?
Yes. Modern porcelain and ceramic crowns are shade-matched to the teeth around them and are designed to disappear rather than to be noticed.
Bridge or implant?
A bridge is quicker and less expensive, but it involves preparing the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. Whether that trade is right depends on the condition of those teeth, and we will walk you through it.
My denture has become loose. Can it be fixed?
Usually. Mouths change shape slowly over the years, and a denture that fit perfectly when it was made can often be relined or remade rather than endured.
Can a denture be held in place more securely?
Yes. A few implants beneath the denture can hold it far more firmly in place. If your denture has never felt secure, it is worth asking us about it.
Book an assessment
We will look at what is there, explain the options honestly, and tell you what each one costs before you decide anything.
Book an assessmentCall 321-635-8533