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Restorative
Dentistry
Fixed
Crown & Bridge
Missing or broken teeth can be restored with porcelain bridges or
single crowns. Dr. John Hoar offers a functional and appealing solution
to these problems.
Crowns
or Caps
A crown
looks like a tooth and is hollow inside, like a thimble. The crown
is usually made of porcelain that is fused to an inner metal core.
Crowns are used to strengthen weak teeth and to improve aesthetics.
They are indicated for teeth that have large fillings, broken teeth,
and teeth treated with a root canal therapy that become quite brittle.
The
compromised tooth is prepared by reducing its size, so that the
crown can be cemented over it. The crown is constructed in the laboratory
from an impression of the prepared tooth according to our exacting
specifications. Dr. Hoar uses all porcelain crowns for front teeth
to achieve extremely natural looking results.
Fixed
Bridgework
Teeth
were designed to compliment each other. When a tooth is lost, the
nearby teeth may shift toward the empty space, or the teeth in the
opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space. This places unusual
stress on both the teeth and tissue in your mouth, which results
in fractured teeth, periodontal disease, and joint problems.
A bridge
is used to replace one or more teeth and is permanently cemented
in the mouth. The teeth adjacent to the missing teeth are prepared
or reduced in size and serve as anchors for the fixed bridge. The
patient wears a temporary acrylic bridge for a short period of time
so that a permanent bridge can be fabricated in the laboratory.
The bridge is ultimately cemented to the prepared teeth with a dental
cement.
A bridge
offers a very aesthetic and quick replacement for missing teeth.
It improves appearance, self-confidence and helps eliminate future
dental problems. It provides a more stable bite with excellent function,
comfort, and esthetics. However, in each case it should be determined
whether the most advantages treatment for the patient should be
a bridge or individual supporting implants.
Some
patients dislike the idea of preparing or reducing their natural
teeth to receive a fixed bridge. Other options are available including
the more natural look and feel of a dental implant.
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