In a perfect world, every tooth would stay strong and healthy no matter what you threw at it.

Next best thing? Rebuilding broken and decayed teeth and replacing missing teeth with strong crowns and bridges that look and feel as natural as possible.

At Lake Baldwin Dental, we’re committed to giving you the comfort and confidence that comes with a functional smile. Let’s take a look at what to expect if you need a dental crown in Orlando, FL!

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a restoration that completely covers your tooth. Where a filling would replace part of the tooth structure that had been damaged, a crown can rebuild the entire visible top portion of your tooth.

Crowns are made from durable materials that can stand up to normal biting and chewing.

Many crowns are made from metals like gold or stainless steel. Porcelain can be fused onto these metals to help crowns blend in.

At Lake Baldwin Dental, we prefer to use full ceramic crowns whenever possible.

There is no competition for the natural beauty of full ceramic crowns. They have the same translucency and shine as natural enamel, and blend seamlessly into your smile.

They also don’t have the dark line along the gums that can happen with traditional metal crowns.

Lightweight E-Max and full zirconia crowns are durable and resistant to damage. They’re also thinner than other options, meaning we can be more conservative when we prepare the tooth, which preserves more of your healthy natural tooth structure.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a false tooth bonded to dental crowns on both sides. Bridges can be placed on healthy, stable natural teeth on each side of a gap where teeth are missing, or they can be set on dental implants to replace several teeth with one restoration.

Bridges are a great option to replace missing teeth. Like crowns, we prefer full ceramic dental bridges because of their unbeatable looks.

It’s important to understand that dental bridges depend on stable, healthy neighboring teeth. That means we’ll need to prepare the anchor teeth for crowns, which will hold the false tooth in place. In some cases, we may recommend avoiding this by going with dental implants instead of a bridge that sits on your natural teeth.

Our team has the training and experience to create beautiful bridges to replace any number of teeth, including implant supported bridges.

In fact, implant bridges can even replace all the teeth in an arch so you can enjoy all your favorite foods without struggling with traditional dentures!

Do I Need a Crown?

We prefer to go with the most conservative possible treatment in most cases. The earlier we can treat a cavity, crack, or other problem, the less work we’ll typically need to do on the tooth.

That means saving more of your natural enamel and decreasing your risks for further damage.

So when do we usually recommend a crown?

When Does a Tooth Need a Crown vs. Filling?

We’ll always try to treat dental problems with fillings if possible. However, we’ll probably recommend a crown if:

• A cavity is too big for a regular filling.
• An old filling needs to be replaced and there’s not much tooth structure left.
• The cavity is in a location where it’s impossible to deliver a healthy filling.
• The tooth needs root canal treatment.
• Your tooth has cracks and may break in the near future.

Our philosophy is to always give you all your options and be sure you fully understand the pros and cons of each so you can make fully informed decisions about your dental health.

If you’re wondering whether your tooth is better off with a filling vs crown, never hesitate to ask! We’ll work with you to arrive at the best treatment plan for your needs.

I Broke My Tooth. What Happens Now?

A broken tooth can be scary and painful. It can help to know what to expect.

In most cases, a dental crown can save cracked and fractured teeth.

Because a crown completely surrounds the tooth, it helps to hold the tooth together. That helps prevent cracks from travelling deeper into the tooth structure and making the tooth unsalvageable.

We may recommend a crown if we see cracks developing, even if the tooth hasn’t broken yet. This is a conservative approach that will help you avoid painful and expensive treatments later on.

If a crack or fracture goes too far into the tooth structure and starts to affect the root of the tooth or affect the tooth below the gum line, it may not be possible to save the tooth with a regular dental crown.

In that case, it may be best to remove the tooth and prepare to replace it with a dental implant or bridge.

If I Need a Root Canal Treatment, Does That Mean I Need a Crown?

Root canal treatments can save teeth with damage that affects the nerve and blood supply inside the pulp or roots.

Because root canal treated teeth no longer get nutrients from blood circulation, they become brittle over time. So back teeth that need to stand up to heavy chewing forces become more likely to break after a root canal therapy.

We can prevent this by placing a crown on the tooth right after your root canal treatment. This will stabilize the tooth and prevent further damage.

Front teeth often do okay without a crown because they don’t need the same strength as back teeth. Unfortunately, they can become discolored and dark after root canal treatment and won’t respond to tooth whitening.

A crown or porcelain veneer is a great option to keep your smile looking great in this case.

Don’t Suffer with Broken and Missing Teeth!

Dental crowns and bridges are important options to save compromised teeth. They’re also key cosmetic dentistry treatments we use in smile makeovers to give you ideal esthetics so you can love your smile for life!

If you’ve been putting off a dental visit because of broken or missing teeth, don’t worry. We can help you rebuild a healthy, functional smile that will help you live with confidence and live life to the fullest.

Call us to schedule your consultation for a crown or dental bridge in Baldwin Park, FL today! Keep smiling, Orlando!