Crowns and Bridges in Fremont, CA

Crowns

A severely chipped front tooth

The tooth prepared for a porcelain crown

When the structure of an entire tooth is compromised, a crown, which covers all of the surfaces of the tooth, will need to be placed. The example to the left illustrates a fractured front tooth.

The first step is to prepare the tooth for a crown, which requires reduction of the tooth so that the lab has enough room to produce a life-like crown. We then take an impression, select the proper color for the crown and make a temporary, at which time the first appointment is completed.

Your case is then sent to the lab to make the crown, which is then tried in and adjusted. Our job is to communicate what your wishes and desires are to the lab technicians so your new crown will be in harmony with the surrounding teeth.

Before your new crown is cemented, we check the fit, the contacts, the bite and the color to make sure it has the same characteristics of your natural teeth.

Please see our Crowns Gallery to view the types of results we can achieve with porcelain crowns.

The porcelain crown being tried in

The tooth restored to its natural appearance

Bridges

A missing molar

The adjacent teeth prepared for a bridge

When a tooth has been lost and healthy teeth are located on both sides of the newly missing tooth or teeth, then a fixed bridge is a treatment option. The other options are implants or a partial denture.

The procedure for having a fixed bridge made is essentially the same as having a crown made except that a fixed bridge involves at least two supporting teeth. What can cause confusion is the number of teeth needed for a fixed bridge. To replace one missing tooth requires a three tooth bridge. This is because the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth must be part of the bridge to provide support.

Fixed bridges are typically made from porcelain with a metal sub-structure and require at least two appointments to complete. The first appointment is used to prepare and temporize the teeth. The second appointment is the delivery appointment to adjust and cement the fixed bridge in place. Occasionally a third appointment is needed if the span of the bridge is long and the supporting framework for the bridge needs to be tried in before the porcelain is applied to the framework.

Even though all of the teeth of the bridge are physically connected, the final result makes it look like the teeth are individual and natural.

Please see our Crowns Gallery, which contains some examples of bridges, to see the types of treatment we can provide for you.

The bridge ready to be tried in

The final bridge cemented

For more information on Crowns & Bridges, call Beverly Claiborne, DDS in Fremont, CA at (510) 792-8765!