Crowns are placed when your dentist feels that your existing tooth may be too heavily filled to sustain the daily forces of chewing and function. A crown is placed to help strengthen the existing tooth to allow it to continue to withstand normal chewing forces.

Crowns are typically recommended after root canal treatments, because root canal treatments can tend to cause teeth to become more brittle over time. Sometimes, a tooth needs to be lengthened prior to preparing the tooth for a crown. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can do a crown lengthening procedure to recede the gum and bone around a tooth in a controlled fashion, giving your dentist more solid tooth structure to work with to place a crown.

The first steps in crown treatment involve removing decay or occasionally an old filling and then reshaping the tooth so that a crown can be placed on top of the old tooth to help strengthen it. At this point, the doctor will take an impression of the new shape of the tooth and place a temporary covering (like a crown) over the tooth.

That impression will be sent to a lab, where the permanent crown will be shaped and polished to look nearly indistinguishable from the rest of your real teeth. On a subsequent visit, you will have your temporary crown removed and your permanent crown placed. Now you are on your way to a new and beautiful smile!

Bridges are recommended at times when one or more teeth are missing. In a missing tooth space, solid anchor teeth on each side can allow for bridgework to replace missing teeth. This decision is made in consultation with your dentist and oral and maxillofacial surgical specialist who will discuss the pros and cons of bridgework vs. implant replacement teeth. After the tooth/teeth surrounding the space are prepared to receive the anchoring crowns, an impression is made of the whole area.

Then, like with a crown, the impression is sent to the lab to have the bridge sculpted to fit the new shape of the teeth. In the meantime, a temporary bridge will be fitted in anticipation of the new permanent bridge, which will be placed at your next follow-up visit. Longevity of crown and bridgework is dependent on good oral hygiene and routine visits with your dentist. By following your dentist's instructions, crown and bridgework can last for some time.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Services Offered: Dental Implants in Tewksbury | Wisdom Teeth | Jaw Surgery | Cosmetic Facial Surgery | Biopsies

Other Common Dental Treatments: Cosmetic Dentistry | Crowns & Bridges | Crown Lengthening | Root Canal Treatment | Apicoectomy | TMJ