7 Ways Porcelain Restorations Can Save Your Smile
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Whether you want to repair or replace a single tooth or need extensive dental work, a porcelain crown and bridge can help.
A porcelain crown replicates the visible portion (crown) of a healthy tooth. A porcelain bridge replaces one or more missing teeth and consists of one or more pontics (artificial teeth) securely anchored with crowns on each side.
These versatile restorations can be used cosmetically to improve a less-than-perfect smile or restore function to decayed, infected, or missing teeth.
Check out the following seven ways porcelain crowns and bridges can help you save your smile.
1. Porcelain Crowns and Severe Tooth Decay
Simple fillings cannot always repair the damage when decay affects a large part of your tooth. Sometimes your dentist can use inlays or onlays, but a porcelain crown is often necessary to restore and protect the tooth.
2. Porcelain Crowns, Injury, and Infected Teeth
When a tooth is injured or has extensive decay, root canal therapy (RCT) may be required to treat damage or infection to save the tooth.
When this happens, a porcelain crown covers the treated tooth and protects it from further damage. If root canal therapy fails or the tooth needs to be extracted, a dental implant or traditional fixed bridge can replace the tooth.
3. Dental Implants and Crowns to Replace Individual Teeth
Porcelain crowns are placed over dental implants, which serve as artificial tooth roots to replace missing individual teeth comprehensively. Dental implants are the preferred tooth replacement method as they replace the entire tooth — including the root — to help preserve healthy underlying bone.
4. Porcelain Bridges and Missing Teeth
A porcelain bridge can replace up to four missing teeth in a row to cosmetically improve your smile and restore a natural bite.
A traditional fixed bridge is less expensive than dental implants and may be appropriate for many patients who have lost teeth.
5. Implant-Supported Bridges
Dental implants are recommended when replacing two or more teeth in a row as they last longer and are a healthier option than traditional fixed bridges. When several teeth are missing, preventing bone loss is essential to maintain the structure of the jaw and avoid changes to lower facial features. This can be accomplished with dental implants.
6. Porcelain Restorations for a Healthy Smile
Porcelain crowns and bridges are durable and long lasting, and because they do not crack or break easily, you can eat and smile confidently.
While you’ll still need to practice proper home oral hygiene, porcelain restorations are not vulnerable to tooth decay.
7. Cosmetic Dentistry and Porcelain Restorations
Porcelain crowns and bridges look natural and resist staining, making them both excellent options for restoring a beautiful and healthy smile, whether supported by dental implants or not.
Combining Teeth Whitening With Porcelain Crowns and Bridges
Porcelain restorations cannot be whitened, so if you ever plan to have your teeth professionally whitened, it’s best to do so before receiving your porcelain crown or bridge. This way, your new restoration(s) can be color-matched to the lighter shade of your natural teeth for a beautifully bright smile.
Porcelain Crowns and Bridges in Chicago, IL
Dr. Fedin offers dental implants and porcelain restorations here at Chicago Dental Arts. To learn more about your Chicago, Illinois, porcelain crown and bridge options, call Chicago Dental Arts at (312) 642-6631 to schedule a visit.
To see our before and after photos, click here.