Crowns, Bridges, and Veneers
If you have a damaged or decayed tooth, our dentists can help you choose the best solution. Crowns and bridges are custom-fitted tooth prosthetics that function and look like natural, healthy teeth. Veneers are a less invasive alternative, but may only be a solution for those with slight tooth damage or discoloration. These thin porcelain or resin shells come in customizable colors and are bonded to the surface of your teeth.
Crowns
Crowns are used to restore teeth that are significantly damaged or decayed. A crown is a type of dental restoration that completely covers the tooth, restoring its shape, size, and appearance to match your natural teeth. If your smile has been damaged by injury or decay, a dental crown can effectively restore your smile’s health, function, and beauty. Dr Thakur may recommend a dental crown in order to:
Complete a dental implant
Restore a severely decayed or damaged tooth
Strengthen a weakened or fractured tooth
Improve the function and appearance of an irregularly shaped tooth
Enhance the beauty of your smile
Support a large dental filling when little original tooth structure remains
Protect a tooth following root canal therapy
We provide a wide range of dental crowns made up of different materials like gold crowns, porcelain fused to metal crowns and full porcelain crowns. Full porcelain crowns are made up of Emax Lithium Disilicate or BruxZir solid Zirconia crowns. They do not have any metal in them and are very aesthetically pleasing.
Bridges
If you're missing one or more teeth, you're not alone. The American Dental Association reports that average adults between 20 and 64 years old have three decayed or missing teeth. Fortunately, you have multiple options for replacing these missing teeth, including dental bridges. Here are different bridges:
Traditional Dental Bridges
Traditional bridges are the most popular kind of bridge. These bridges consist of one or more pontics (fake teeth) and are held in place by dental crowns on each side. These dental crowns are also called abutments, and they are cemented onto the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth.
Traditional bridges can be used when you have natural teeth on both sides of the gap created by your missing tooth. Bridges are even strong enough to replace molars. The downside of traditional bridges is that your dentist will need to prepare the adjacent teeth by removing their enamel to make room for the crowns that will be cemented on top. Since enamel doesn't grow back, these teeth will always need to be protected with crowns, even if you later choose a different type of a bridge or implant.
Maryland Bridges
Maryland bridges are considered a conservative alternative to traditional bridges. These bridges consist of a pontic that is held in place by a metal or porcelain framework. This framework is bonded onto the backs of the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. Since this type of bridge isn't held in place by crowns, the adjacent teeth don't need to be filed.
While Maryland bridges are more conservative than traditional bridges, they do have their downsides. The strength of the bridge is limited by the strength of the resin that holds it in place and may not stay in place in areas of the mouth where the teeth are subjected to a lot of biting force, like the molars.
Implant-Supported Bridges
Implant supported Bridges are another option for replacing missing teeth. They can be used when you have more than one tooth missing. Instead of being supported by crowns or frameworks, these bridges are supported by dental implants. Usually, one implant is placed for every missing tooth, and this series of implants holds the bridge in place. However, the bridge may consist of a pontic suspended between two implant-supported crowns if placing one implant for every lost tooth isn't possible.
Veneers
If you’re looking to cosmetically correct or enhance the appearance of one or more teeth, we suggest veneers. They are very thin, porcelain or resin shells that you can customize in color and shape. They are non-invasive and are resistant to future stains.
Common uses for veneers:
Chipped or broken teeth
Misshapen or irregular teeth
Teeth that do not respond to traditional whitening treatments