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Dental Crowns & Dental Bridges in Aliso Viejo, CA

If you damage one or more of your teeth you should visit dentist right away to talk about possible solutions. Several dental restorations are available, and you might be wondering which one is best for you. You might also have questions regarding the differences between a dental crown and a dental bridge. Dental crowns and most dental bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. dentists cement them onto existing teeth or implants, and if replacements are required, only a dentist can remove them. This characteristic distinguishes them from dentures and other removable options like dentures, which must be removed and cleaned daily.

Dental Crowns

A crown is a tooth shaped cap that is fixed over the tooth to resize and reshape and also improve the appearance of the teeth. Dental crowns are a secure way to fill gaps and help restore your smile if you have missing or damaged teeth. A crown can also help you bite and chew better, which can positively impact other systems in your body, such as a your digestive system. To learn more about treatments with expert Aliso Viejo Dental Crown provider, Dr. Tafreshi, schedule a consultation with us today.

procedure for Dental Crowns are as follows:

Taking an Impression for your Dental Crowns

On your first visit for a dental crown Aliso Viejo dental professionals at AVF Dental Group will take an impression of your upper and lower teeth to make a permanent record of their appearance and how they fit together when your jaws are closed (known as “occlusion”). To make an accurate reproduction of your upper and lower teeth, a jaw-shaped tray is filled with a soft gel-like material, pushed onto your teeth and held in place to set for three to five minutes.

Preparation for a Crown

After the area is numbed with a local anaesthetic, the tooth is shaped using a drill, making it smaller by one to two millimitres. After shaping, another impression is taken to record changes to the prepared tooth. The impressions are sent to a dental technician who makes the dental crown according to specifications provided by the dentist or prosthodontist.

To protect the prepared tooth, a temporary crown is attached to the reshaped tooth with temporary cement. As a temporary crown is not as strong as the final dental crown, you should chew on the opposite side of the mouth and avoid sticky or hard foods.

At the second appointment, the temporary crown is removed. The new crown is placed over the reshaped tooth to check that shape and colour match properly. If they do, the dental crown is cemented to the tooth with dental cement. Dental cement usually sets in less than one hour and reaches full strength in 24 hours.

After fitting, the dental crown should feel comfortable and natural in your mouth. When testing your occlusion, your dentist or prosthodontist relies partly on what you say about the feel of your bite, so you should mention any uncomfortable or strange sensations. Minor adjustments are often needed to achieve comfort.

fill a gap created by a missing tooth

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is one method to fill a gap created by a missing tooth (or teeth). Dental bridge or pontic is a custom-made false tooth or teeth, that is permanently placed between two healthy teeth, filling in the area left by a missing tooth or teeth. The bridge is held in place by crowns placed on the healthy teeth on each side of space to be filled. Procedure for dental bridges are as follows:

Taking an Impression for your Dental Bridges

On your first visit for a dental bridge Aliso Viejo dental professionals at AVF Dental Group will take an impression of your upper and lower teeth to make a permanent record of their appearance and how they fit together when your jaws are closed (known as “occlusion”). To make an accurate reproduction of your upper and lower teeth, a jaw-shaped tray is filled with a soft gel-like material, pushed onto your teeth and held in place to set for three to five minutes.

Dental Bridges in Aliso Viejo, CA

Preparation

Preparation for a Dental Bridge

The steps in preparing and fitting a dental bridge are similar to those for a crown. The teeth on either side of the gap are shaped by drilling. These teeth are fitted with crowns, which serve as anchors for the replacement tooth that is attached to the framework of the adjacent crowns. The whole piece is then cemented firmly in place. With expertise, Dr. Tafreshi excels as a trusted Aliso Viejo dental bridge specialist.

lifespan of any restoration

How Long Will Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges Last?

The exact lifespan of any dental crown restoration will depend on how well you take care of it. As a general rule, they last between 7-15 years but longer periods are certainly possible with outstanding oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.

Similarly, the longevity of dental bridges depends on your maintenance. Generally, they last 7-15 years, but excellent oral care and regular dental visits can extend their lifespan even further.

Esthetic Improvement

Of Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges

Some people having Dental Crowns with black, darkened lines in between their gums and teeth. Are they caused by Crown or Dental Bridges? The newer all porcelain crowns are an esthetic improvement over older, porcelain fused to metal crowns as if the gum line would recede, the older crowns often showed a metal edge to the crown that originally was hidden from view. Since all porcelain crowns have no metal, no markings are evident if the gum line recedes.

Teeth Care

Dental Crown and Dental Bridge care

Once your dental crown or bridge is fitted, it’s important to maintain a regular and effective routine of oral hygiene. Brush and floss two to three times a day, taking extra care to floss around your crown. This will help avoid decay where the crown and the tooth join. Avoid sticky foods such as toffee and lollies, and do not use your teeth inappropriately – chewing pens, crunching ice, gnawing fingernails, etc.

A dental floss threader, which looks like a small bendy brush, can be used to clean under your dental bridge. There are also water jets on the market that will help keep your bridge clean. Whether you have a crown or a bridge, the most important thing is to regularly visit your dentist for a checkup and clean. This way problems can be detected early, allowing them to be corrected before they become painful and expensive.

We are dedicated to providing comprehensive oral health treatment to all our patients. Our team, led by Dr. Tafreshi, believes that a solid doctor-patient relationship is built on mutual trust and respect. We work closely with each patient to establish a lifelong partnership and provide personalized treatment plans. We want you to feel empowered in making decisions about your oral health. Don't let dental care be a luxury out of reach; we believe a beautiful smile is easily achievable for everyone. Schedule an appointment today, and let us help you achieve your dental goals.

15 Mareblu Suite #360, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656