When a tooth is lost or severely damaged, it’s important to receive a top-quality restoration. In many cases, we will recommend a dental crown or bridge. These custom-made restorations can provide the function and appearance of healthy, natural teeth.
Dental crowns are used to restore or replace a single tooth. They are very versatile, as a crown can be used to cap and protect a damaged tooth or to replace a tooth that has been lost entirely. Dental bridges are used to replace lost teeth. While a bridge may be used to replace a single lost tooth, in most cases it is used to replace multiple adjacent teeth.
At Southern Dental at Katy, we offer CEREC single-visit crowns as well as traditional crowns and bridges made of porcelain.
CEREC is a revolutionary technology that allows us to create a permanent restoration while you wait - in just one visit. The CEREC process begins by taking digital photographs of your teeth and uploading those images to a computer. We then use computer-aided design to create a custom model of your new restoration. We send this model to a special CEREC milling machine located right here in our office where your restoration will be created. This usually takes about 20 minutes, and it can be applied immediately.
A traditional crown is built in a dental laboratory using impressions of your teeth, and they require two visits to our office. The first visit will involve taking impressions, and we will apply your crown at a follow-up visit. A crown can be installed over a damaged tooth to protect the structure and restore its appearance and strength, or a crown can replace a missing tooth by being attached to a dental implant (which was previously placed in the jaw). Crowns are also used to provide support to dental bridges.
Dental bridges are typically used when a patient is missing multiple teeth in a row. They consist of two parts - the abutments and the bridge. The abutment is two dental crowns - one at each end of the bridge, and they provide support for the rest of the structure. The actual bridge is the replacement teeth in the middle that “bridge” the gap where teeth were missing.
If you have lost or damaged teeth, and you are looking for top-quality restorations that look, feel and function just like natural teeth, call the experts at Southern Dental Associates at Katy. We look forward to helping you recover your healthy smile. You can reach us at (281) 398-4132.
For all other appointment types, please call the Baybrook or Willowbrook office.
For all other appointment types, please call the Baybrook or Willowbrook office.
