Why Are Dental Crowns Needed With Bridges?

Replacing a tooth that is missing is important for your mouth, health, and appearance, and there are several different ways this can be accomplished. One of the methods is by getting a bridge. A bridge is a dental device that contains an artificial tooth and is held in place by the surrounding teeth. Because of the way this is done, getting a bridge may require getting one or two dental crowns too.

What Is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are artificial teeth made to fit over existing teeth. They are generally made out of porcelain, but can also be made out of other materials such as resin or stainless steel. The main purpose of a dental crown is to save or fix a tooth that has major issues. This includes teeth that:

• Are cracked or chipped
• Contain too many fillings
• Require root canals
• Shaped poorly

When a dentist uses a crown to fix a tooth, he or she shaves a tooth down and removes all decay and fillings from it. The dentist then makes a dental crown by taking impressions of the tooth. The dental crown is cemented over the existing tooth and becomes a permanent part of the person's mouth.

In addition to using dental crowns to fix teeth, dentists also use them to hold bridges in place.

What Is a Bridge?

A bridge is used when a person wants to replace a missing tooth, but doesn't want a dental implant. A bridge is not permanently fused into a person's mouth, like an implant is, and that is why dentists use crowns with bridges.

A bridge is made up of several parts, but the main part is the artificial tooth that will replace the missing tooth. The dentist creating the bridge makes this tooth by taking impressions of the person's mouth, and he or she forms the tooth to look like the person's other teeth.

Because there is nothing to hold this artificial tooth in place, dentists use crowns to complete this task. This is why a bridge generally contains three teeth. The artificial replacement tooth is in the center, and it is cemented to two crowns (one on each side).

The crowns are also made by taking impressions of the teeth, and the dentist may have to shave down both of the teeth that will have crowns covering them. When the bridge is completely ready, the dentist will cement the two crowns in place over the teeth, and these crowns will securely hold the bridge in place.

Are There Challenges With These?

Some people prefer getting dental implants instead of bridges because:

• Dental implants are permanent – A bridge is semi-permanent because it is cemented in place; however, bridges can fall out.
• Implants are independent – The other advantage of a dental implant is that it doesn't affect the surrounding teeth like a bridge does.

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the benefit of getting a bridge instead of an implant is the cost difference. One of the downsides is that keeping a bridge clean can be challenging because of the way it is installed in the mouth.

You should brush these teeth the same way you brush the rest of your teeth, but flossing can be slightly harder. Because the teeth are attached together, it is hard to floss when you have a bridge. If you're having trouble keeping this area clean, your dentist may recommend purchasing an oral care system that uses water to wash these tough areas.

If you would like to learn more about getting a missing tooth replaced, contact a dentist in your area and schedule an appointment to have your mouth examined.