Crowns And Bridges Specialist
Sokoly Dental
General and Cosmetic Dentistry located in Washington, DC
Crowns and bridges are classic dental solutions that can make your smile look, feel, and function like new. Thomas D. Sokoly, DDS, and the experienced team provide their patients with crowns and bridges to restore damaged teeth, improve unsightly teeth, or replace teeth that are missing altogether. To learn more about how the Sokoly Dental can improve your smile with a crown or bridge, schedule an appointment at their office in Washington D.C. You can book your visit by phone or online.
Crowns and Bridges Q&A
What is a crown?
A crown is an artificial tooth cap that’s permanently affixed to an existing root structure in your smile, such as a natural tooth root or a dental implant.
Crowns can serve a wide range of purposes and are typically used to:
- Reinforce a weakened tooth and protect it from further damage
- Restore a tooth’s strength and function after a root canal
- Upgrade a cosmetically unappealing tooth
- Cap off a dental implant
Once in place, a crown feels and functions just like your natural tooth. Depending on the material you choose, your crown can look just like a natural tooth as well.
What are bridges?
A bridge is a fixed oral appliance that replaces a tooth that’s entirely missing. A traditional bridge is composed of a fake tooth, or pontic, that’s attached to a crown on either side. The pontic fills in the missing hole in your smile, literally “bridging” the gap between your teeth.
For patients whose smiles can’t support both crowns of a traditional bridge, the Sokoly Dental team can provide alternatives.
A cantilever bridge has only one crown attached to the pontic, while a Maryland bonded bridge has a pontic that’s supported by metal framework that’s sealed to the backs of the adjacent teeth.
What are crowns and bridges made from?
Crowns and bridges are made from a wide range of materials, including:
- Base metal alloys
- Gold
- Ceramic
- Porcelain fused to metal
- Zirconium
Each of these materials has different pros and cons. The Sokoly Dental team can help you select a material that best suits your needs, preferences, and budget.
What’s the process for getting a crown or a bridge?
When you come in for your crown or bridge, the team at Sokoly Dental first uses a local anesthetic to numb the area of your smile that’s going to be crowned or bridged.
Next, they shave off some enamel from your teeth. If you’re getting a crown, they shave down the tooth-to-be-crowned; if you’re getting a bridge, they shave down the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth.
Once your teeth are prepared, they take an impression of your smile. They send this impression off to a lab where your crown or bridge is designed and fabricated to fit comfortably in your mouth and blend in seamlessly with your smile.
The team fits you with a temporary crown or bridge while you wait for your permanent restoration to come back from the lab.
Once your permanent crown or bridge is ready, you come back to Sokoly Dental for a second visit. The team removes your temporary crown or bridge, cleans your mouth, then places your permanent restoration.
If the fit and bite are comfortable and you like the way it looks, they seal it in place with a permanent dental cement. You leave the office ready to chew, speak, and smile with confidence again.
Don’t wait to get the smile you want. Schedule a crown or bridge consultation with the Sokoly Dental team today by calling the office or booking a visit online.