Photo by Daniel Xavier on <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-wearing-black-eyeglasses-1239291/" rel="nofollow">Pexels.com</a>
A healthy smile is essential to have full use of teeth for proper eating, drinking, and speaking. However, positive dental health is compromised by situations such as tooth decay, misaligned teeth, sporting accidents, and congenital defects. Any of these undesirable problems can result in damage to soft and hard dental tissue. To preserve as much dental structure as possible, it’s beneficial to use dental crowns and dental bridges. Learn how to choose between these two dental treatments.
Why Dentists Use Restorative Devices
To keep incisors, canines, premolars, and molars functional, it’s necessary to preserve as much hard dental tissue as possible. A damaged tooth may need to be partially or totally removed to keep the rest of the biological tooth from further disintegration. Also, removing the defective tooth structure keeps adjacent teeth in good condition. A beneficial way to treat this is by using Dental Crowns or dental bridges. These restorative devices take the place of missing teeth or parts of teeth.
Dental Crown and Dental Bridge Fundamentals
Both dental crowns and dental bridges are dental prostheses or restorative devices. A restorative device is put into space once occupied by part of all of a natural tooth. A dental crown acts as the cover of a tooth. It’s installed onto a tooth above the gumline. A dental crown is attached to a natural tooth with a connector called an abutment. A dental bridge serves to fill the gap of one or more missing teeth. This prosthesis is anchored to one or more teeth on the sides of the gap in the row of teeth.
When Dental Crowns are Recommended
Many dentists recommend dental crowns when the bottom portion of a tooth can be saved. A primary reason for the dental crown recommendation is to cover a dental implant. These restorative devices are also installed to restore a fractured tooth or to safeguard against breakage in a fractured tooth. A dentist may suggest a dental crown when a large filling does not work due to insufficient tooth tissue. Dental crown treatment is also performed to correct discoloration or change the shape of a tooth.
When Dental Bridges are Suggested
Traditional bridges, cantilever bridges, and Maryland bridges are all implemented to help dental patients have better use of teeth when one or more natural teeth are missing. A dental bridge may be recommended when an entire tooth should be pulled due to damage or decay. Dental bridges help keep teeth in a row from drifting when there is a gap in the row of teeth. These restorative devices are used when missing teeth cause adjacent teeth to absorb stress from chewing. This correctly distributes force from teeth grinding down food. Also, dental bridges are installed to help maintain the natural shape of the face.
When a dental problem exists, it’s vital to seek treatment so soft tissues and hard tissues are healed with as little loss as possible. Dental structure retention is achieved through the use of dental bridges and dental crowns. Understanding the uses and basic structure of each device is helpful for effective communication with a dental provider. A well-informed dental patient can make smart decisions on dental treatment. This helps a person achieve heightened dental health and enhanced overall health for increased wellness.
