What Are Dental Crowns and Bridges?

Dental crowns and bridges are proven solutions for restoring damaged or missing teeth. Whether you're dealing with a cracked tooth, severe decay, or a missing tooth, these restorations help bring back your smile's function and appearance. At Chelsea Comprehensive Dental in Chelsea, AL, we offer custom crowns and bridges that look natural and feel comfortable.

A dental crown is essentially a cap placed over a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, strength, and function. A bridge, on the other hand, is used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to the natural teeth (or implants) on either side of the gap.

Why You Might Need a Crown or Bridge

Strengthen and Protect a Damaged Tooth

If you’ve had a large cavity, a root canal, or a broken tooth, a crown is often the best way to protect the remaining structure. It covers the tooth completely, sealing it off from further damage and allowing you to chew comfortably.

Replace Missing Teeth

When a tooth is lost, it can cause problems with chewing, speech, and even the alignment of your remaining teeth. A dental bridge fills in the gap with a replacement tooth that’s held in place by crowns on neighboring teeth or supported by implants. It’s a stable, fixed solution that feels much more natural than removable dentures.

Improve Appearance

Crowns and bridges are designed to match your natural teeth in shape and color. Whether you're restoring a front tooth or one in the back, our team at Chelsea Comprehensive Dental works to make sure your restoration blends in with your smile.

The Process of Getting Crowns and Bridges

Getting a crown or bridge usually takes two visits. During your first appointment, we’ll prepare the affected tooth or teeth, take digital impressions, and place a temporary restoration. Your custom crown or bridge is then made in a dental lab based on those impressions.

Once it’s ready, you’ll come back for the final fitting. We’ll make any necessary adjustments and cement it in place. The result is a strong, stable, and natural-looking restoration that functions like your original tooth.

Caring for Your New Restoration

With proper care, dental crowns and bridges can last many years. Just like your natural teeth, it’s important to brush and floss daily and keep up with regular dental checkups. Avoid biting hard objects or using your teeth to open things, which can damage the restoration.

Our team will give you clear instructions on how to care for your new crown or bridge so it lasts as long as possible.

Restore Your Smile at Chelsea Comprehensive Dental

If you’re dealing with a damaged or missing tooth, don’t wait to get the care you need. At Chelsea Comprehensive Dental in Chelsea, AL, we provide high-quality dental crowns and bridges to help you eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.

Call us today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can restore your smile with custom dental crowns and bridges. Our friendly team is here to help you every step of the way.