BRIDGES

If you're missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking. There are options to help restore your smile.

Bridgeshelp maintain the shape of your face, as well as alleviating the stress in your bite by replacing missing teeth.

Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. The restoration can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.

Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist

An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under the gum tissue. Depending on which type of bridge your dentist recommends, its success depends on its foundation. So it's very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

CROWNS

A crown is a restoration that covers or "caps" a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size, strengthening and improving its appearance. Crowns are generally needed  when a tooth breaks and fillings won't solve the problem. If a tooth cracks, a crown holds it together to seal it so the damage does not get worse. Crowns are also used to restore a tooth when there is not enough of it remaining to provide support for a large filling, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore root canal treated teeth or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth. 

Why crowns and not veneers?

Crowns require more tooth structure removal, hence they cover more of The tooth than veneers. Crowns are customarily indicated for teeth that have sustained significant loss of structure or to replace missing teeth. Crowns may be placed on natural teeth or dental implants.

What is the difference between a cap and a crown?

There is no difference between a cap and a crown.

How long do crowns last? 

Crowns should last approximately five to eight years. However, with good oral hygiene and supervision, most crowns will last for a much longer period of time. Some damaging habits like grinding your teeth, chewing ice or fingernail biting may cause this period of time to decrease significantly.   

How should I take care of my crown?

To prevent damaging or fracturing the crown, avoid chewing hard foods, ice or other hard objects. You also want to avoid teeth grinding. Besides visiting your dentist and brushing twice a day, cleaning between your teeth is vital with crowns. Floss or inter-dental cleaners (specially shaped brushes and sticks) are important tools to remove plaque from the crown area where the gum meets the tooth. Plaque in that area can cause dental decay and gum disease.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CROWNS

PORCELAIN FUSED TO METAL (PFM)-The standard option

PFM is a process in which the dental laboratory makes a thin metal mold of your prepared tooth, and then adds porcelain on top to recreate your tooth as a crown. Once the crown is created, your dentist uses cement to secure it in your mouth.

 Key Attributes:

· Least costly

· In use for many years

· Fast turn around

Drawbacks: 

· Does not allow any light transmission which can make that tooth look unnatural.

· Contains metal which has been shown to cause allergic reactions in some individuals creating black lines around the crowns.

Hand made: the quality is directly dependent upon technicians' skill to create.

· Skill and experience vary among technicians.

CERAMIC CROWNS-The Technologically advanced option

 Ceramic Crowns are designed by CAD CAM Tech  providing a customized crown that fits precisely to your prepared tooth. This process removes the variance seen with handcrafting. Which can lead to issues of fit, needing chair side adjustments. Cermaic Cad Cam crowns and bridges are made of super high strength ceramics.

 Ceramic Cad Cam crowns are translucent just like your natural teeth. You won’t be able to tell the difference!

 Key attributes

· Natural –looking- looks just like your natural teeth

· No metal; allergy free

· No gray line due to gum recession

· Miillion of Ceramic Cad Cam crownsHave been placed placed

· Long lasting—may last a life time

· It permits light transmission and makes your Teeth look natural.

  Drawbacks

· Ceramic Cad Cam crowns and bridges may be slightly higher priced than PFMcrowns and bridges.

Elite Crowns-The superior option

Aguilera Dental Laser is a discerning group that realizes that “nice caps” are no longer acceptable and want beautiful teeth, hence it offers the Elite restoration. 

Clearly, these are much more than crowns– they are beautiful, natural looking teeth. Elite restorations are truly unlike any other restoration.This is way beyond the ordinary , this is for patients who expect the finest aesthetic restoration available.

The Elite's life like natural appearance and exceptional fit make it the restoration of choice. Aguilera Dental chooses Elite restorations because exceeds all expectations; in all aspects of quality the Elite restoration demonstrates commitment to the highest standards in aesthetic dentistry today.

The Elite porcelain restoration can be applied to Any Ceramic Cad Cam Crown , Finesse all Ceramic, IPS Empress, and any ceramic system.