Crowns & Bridges

Crowns and bridges are standard, durable choices that promote oral health and beautiful smiles. At Smile Dental Clinic in Falls Church and Herndon, Virginia, Farah Ahmad, DDS, Sumra Ahmad, DDS, and Saira Ahmad, DDS, offer tailored porcelain crowns and bridges to people of all ages. Crowns and bridges blend perfectly with your natural teeth, giving you a radiant and long-lasting smile. Call the practice to schedule an appointment, or book a consultation online today.

What are crowns and bridges?

Crowns are a restorative solution that strengthens a tooth or improves its shape. A crown is a cap that your provider cements onto an existing tooth or a complete false tooth that’s attached to a dental implant (an artificial tooth root).

A cap typically covers or replaces the portion of your tooth above the gumline.

Broken, worn, or decayed teeth might require a crown. When insufficient tooth strength remains to hold a filling, a crown or partial crown can solve the problem.

Your provider takes impressions that are then sent to a lab, where technicians make a crown out of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are popular because they’re strong and have the clarity and color of natural teeth.

A bridge replaces missing teeth by bridging the gap created by the loss of one or more natural teeth. A bridge supports the shape of your face and eases stress on your bite.

Bridges can be made of gold, porcelain, or alloys of these materials.

When would I need crowns and bridges?

You would need a crown or bridge to:

• Shield weak teeth from further damage
• Cover extensive fillings
• Replace teeth
• Bridge gaps between teeth
• Enhance your smile’s appearance
• Correct an irregular bite

Your provider could also recommend a crown to cover and seal a tooth treated with root canal therapy.

What can I expect from a procedure involving crowns and bridges?

Your provider gives you local anesthesia before a crown or bridge procedure to keep you comfortable. They then reshape the natural teeth that will support your new crown or bridge. They might also use a filling material to build up parts of your tooth.

They’ll take dental impressions and send them to a lab where a technician creates your crown or bridge.

You might need to wait two to four weeks for your final crown or bridge. In the meantime, your provider places a temporary crown or bridge in your mouth.

When your crown or bridge is ready, your provider removes your temporary crown or bridge, fits the new one, and bonds it in place.

Routine oral hygiene is vital in preserving crowns and bridges. This includes daily brushing and flossing and dental visits every six months. Your restorations can last 10 years or longer with the proper care.

For more information on how crowns and bridges can rejuvenate your smile, call Smile Dental Clinic or request an appointment online today.