Crowns, also known as caps, are protective restorations that encase your entire tooth. They are done when a tooth has been fractured, chipped, badly decayed, or to prevent future breaks in teeth that are heavily filled. They are also suggested after most root canal procedures to protect the underlying tooth. At Oasis Dental, Dr. Linda Gherman can make you three types of crowns:
- cast metal crowns are made out of cast gold or base metal and are strong, very durable, with high tissue compatibility;
- porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer the strength of metal and the beauty of porcelain for an aesthetic and durable restoration;
- porcelain crowns are the most aesthetic alternative, with porcelain stacked and fired to match the shade of nearby teeth and allow light passage to mimic natural enamel.
Dr. Gherman will discuss with you in detail these types of crowns and help you pick the choice best suited to your needs. She will then spend one visit to carefully shape the tooth, take an impression of it, then fabricate a temporary crown to protect it until the permanent crown is ready. Dr. Gherman has worked with the same lab technician for the past 3 years, and trusts him to provide a well-fitted and esthetic restoration. This crown will be fitted and cemented during a second visit.
Bridges are connected crowns that work as a unit to fill spaces created by missing teeth. The teeth on either side of a gap may be used as anchors with artificial teeth in between. Dr. Gherman will shape the anchor teeth as described above for single crowns, and then cement the bridge at a second appointment.