Healthy teeth are important both functionally and cosmetically. Missing or severely damaged teeth can cause bite irregularities, speech problems, and self-confidence issues. Modern dentistry offers durable tooth replacement options that can improve your oral health and appearance.
Contact Dr. George P. Cerniglia, today to learn about how our crowns and bridgework in Metairie, LA can help restore your teeth.
Restorative Dental Treatments in Metairie
Custom dental prosthetics are artificial devices that repair or reconstruct imperfections in your teeth and jaw. The type of device you require depends on the state of your teeth and the issue you need to correct.
For example, you may only need a veneer to cover the front of a single flawed tooth or dentures to replace many missing teeth. Crowns and bridges fall somewhere in between cosmetic veneers and full dentures.
What Is a Crown?
A crown completely covers the visible portion of a tooth (above the gum line). Dental crowns fit like “caps” over chipped, worn, discolored, and misshapen teeth. They also help strengthen and protect weak, cracked, or heavily decayed teeth.
The right material for a tooth crown depends on your needs and goals. For example, high-tech porcelains produce the most natural-looking crowns. However, if you care more about durability, you may opt for gold. When you come to Dr. George P. Cerniglia, for crowns and bridgework in Metairie, LA, we can help you evaluate your options.
How We Attach Crowns
Dental crowns usually take two or three visits to our office. During the first visit, we focus on preparing the tooth. This may require numbing the area and then drilling the tooth to shape it to fit the crown. Alternatively, it may involve building up the tooth with a filling material to support the crown.
Next visit, we will take impressions of your teeth to send to the dental laboratory. We can make impressions physically with a putty material or digitally with our modern scanning equipment. Specially trained lab technicians will create your custom crown to fit correctly, function properly, and look natural.
During the final visit, once we have prepared your tooth and taken impressions, we attach a temporary crown to protect your teeth. When your new crown is ready, we attach it with permanent cement or a resin that hardens when exposed to a special type of light.
What Is a Bridge?
A dental bridge may be a good solution if you are missing one or more teeth. Bridges are a series of crowns that “bridge” the gaps in your teeth. Like porcelain crowns, porcelain dental bridges mimic the appearance of real teeth. Properly designed, fitted, and placed crowns and bridgework in Metairie, LA, can improve your smile and help maintain the alignment of your existing teeth.
How We Create Bridges
Dental bridges use crowns to replace missing teeth. We start by placing crowns over healthy teeth on the sides of the gap. These “abutment” teeth support the bridge. Next, we replace one or more missing teeth with crowns. Dentists call these artificial teeth “pontics.” Each bridge requires at least three crowns (two abutments and one pontic), but you may need more.
For example, if you are missing three teeth, you may require two abutment teeth on each side of the gap. This would create a seven-tooth bridge. Although some people call these permanent dental bridges, you will eventually need to replace them when they become worn or damaged.
How To Care for Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and bridges require the same attentive care as natural teeth. You should carefully brush and floss daily with nonabrasive toothpaste. Also, avoid extremely hard or chewy foods and using your teeth as tools. Finally, remember to visit the dentist for cleanings and checkups regularly.
Contact Us Today for Dental Crowns and Bridgework in Metairie, LA
Successful dental work requires scientific knowledge with an artistic touch. Dr. George P. Cerniglia, combines decades of experience with modern technological advancements to achieve crowns and bridges that are as aesthetic as they are functional. Contact us today or call (985) 777-3018 to schedule an appointment.