A fixed bridge is a permanent replacement for missing teeth that is affixed to surrounding teeth. The bridge fills the gap left by the missing teeth, preventing the surrounding teeth from moving into the gap and becoming misaligned.
Dental Bridges
In cases where the surrounding teeth are strong enough to support it, a bridge is an excellent solution to maintain alignment and create a beautiful smile. A fixed bridge is a less invasive treatment than a dental implant, since nothing has to be implanted in the jaw.
Your dentist can craft a bridge that perfectly matches the color of the surrounding teeth, shaped to fit your smile even better than the teeth it replaces.
The “traditional bridge” is the most common type, and is typically made of porcelain fused to metal. Traditional bridges consist to two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth (abutment teeth) and are attached to pontics (artificial teeth), filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
Dental Crowns
A crown is a cap or covering that encases the entire surface of a tooth, restoring it to its original shape, size and function. A crown protects and strengthens the structure of a tooth that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.
There are several types of crowns, but porcelain (tooth colored) crowns are the most popular, since they blend in almost imperceptibly with your natural teeth. Dental crowns are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced.
Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth, giving you a long-lasting and natural looking smile.