Bonding, Bridges & Crowns

What is Tooth Bonding?

For those who have chipped a tooth, a bonding is an affordable and quick way to correct a smile. A tooth colored resin material will be adhered to your tooth using a high-frequency curing light. Your dentist will shape the bonded area to match your other teeth. This procedure is quick and relatively painless.

The material used for tooth bonding is not as strong as real teeth and the material will begin to break down after 3-4 years so replacement and/or bonding repair will be necessary. Many prefer crowns and veneers as a more permanent solution to bonding.

Candidates for Dental Bonding:

• Chipped and/or broken teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Disproportionately sized teeth
• Unevenly spaced teeth
• Staining under ename

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a tooth shaped cap that is placed over an original tooth.  A crown restores a tooth shape, size and appearance.  Often crowns are recommended to treat and protect weak teeth, or to hold together a cracked or broken tooth.

When a Dental Crown is Recommended:

• Restore a damaged, broken or cracked tooth
• Cover discolored teeth
• protect week teeth from further damage or delay
• cover a dental implant
• cover teeth with larger fillings
• cover a tooth treated with a root canal

Traditional Crown Procedure

The traditional crown typically takes 2 appointments. At your first appointment your dentist will prepare the tooth receiving the crown. This tooth will need to have some of its enamel removed in order for the crown to properly fit over it. Your dentist will next take an impression of your tooth to properly shape the permanent crown. Once this is complete, you will receive a temporary crown. Your permanent crown and its measurements will be sent to an off site lab to be developed. This can take up to 2 weeks. At your second appointment, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and adhere the permanent crown.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is literally a bridge for your teeth! This type of dental work “bridges the gap” of a missing tooth or multiple teeth. With a dental bridge an artificial tooth is attached to a bridge to fill in the space where the tooth cavity is empty.

Advantages of a Dental Bridge:

• Allows you to speak and eat properly
• Improves smile
• Can replace partial dentures
• Restores your bite
• Stops teeth from shifting
• Lets your face retain its natural shape

The Dental Bridge Procedure

During your first appointment your dentist will prepare the natural teeth which involves removing some of the enamel from these teeth to allow the bridge to fit properly. Once the enamel is removed your dentist will make impressions. From there your dentist design the bridge that best suites your individual needs. Your bridge will be created at an external dental lab, which may take several weeks to complete. At the end of your first visit, you will be fit with a temporary bridge to use while your permanent bridge is being made. At your second visit your temporary bridge will be removed and your custom permanent bridge will be adhered often by use of crowns on the natural teeth. Follow up visits may be necessary to adjust the fit of the bridge.