Dental Crowns and Bridges – Skokie, IL
Make Your Smile Whole Again
Our teeth are meant to last a lifetime, but sometimes, an accident or poor oral hygiene can leave one of your pearly whites weakened, broken or badly decayed; sometimes you might even lose it altogether. Whenever that happens, call North Shore Family Dentistry for a fully functional, natural-looking restoration. Whether it’s repairing a tooth with a crown or replacing it with a bridge, we’ll bring your smile back to its full strength and appearance.
What are Dental Crowns?
As you can guess from the name, dental crowns are placed on top of a tooth to bring it back to its normal shape and size. While they’ve traditionally been made out of metal alloys, we can use porcelain or composite resin instead to create a restoration that’ll blend right in with the rest of your teeth.
Dental crowns have many uses. They’re commonly used to restore and protect teeth that are cracked, worn down or weakened; they’re also an option for when there’s a cavity that can’t be filled. You’ll often receive a crown after certain procedures like a root canal. And finally, a crown supported by an implant can replace one of your teeth.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
- Versatile: Can repair and protect damaged teeth, but it can also be used as a cosmetic treatment if your tooth is discolored or badly misshapen.
- Durable: Crowns are designed to withstand the chewing pressures that your natural teeth need to deal with. They can last for a long time – usually 5 to 15 years – before they need to be replaced.
- High Success Rate: Compared to other kinds of restorations, dental crowns are highly reliable and are backed by various studies.
- Simple Procedure: The process for getting a dental crown is straightforward and is minimally invasive.
What are Dental Bridges?
When a tooth is missing, the rest will start to move into the empty space, affecting your bite and possibly causing you a lot of pain. To avoid these issues, you can fill the gap with a dental bridge. Bridges are made of two crowns joined by a false tooth. The crowns traditionally rest on two abutment teeth adjacent to the space that needs to be filled. They can also be supported by dental implants; that way, they can replace multiple teeth in a row. Like crowns, bridges are often made from porcelain so that they resemble natural teeth as closely as possible.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
- Restore Missing Teeth: You’ll be able to smile with confidence again without worrying about missing space in your mouth, and your ability to chew and speak properly will be restored.
- Maintain Oral Health: The bridge will stop your other teeth from shifting and make sure that the forces in your bite are distributed properly.
- Permanence: Unlike dentures that might slip while you’re laughing or eating, dental bridges are fixed in place.
- Durability: Just like crowns, bridges can be expected to last for an average of about 5 to 15 years at a time.