Crowns And Bridges Specialist
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Lakeline Ranch Dental
Ardalan Zahedi, BDS, DDS, DMD
General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Austin, TX
Neglecting flaws in your smile can cause self-esteem issues and even hamper your social life. That's why Dr. Ardalan Zahedi offers dental bridge and crowns to replace missing teeth and improve the appearance of damaged or discolored teeth at Lakeline Ranch Dental in Austin, Texas. Crowns, protective porcelain caps, and bridges -- fixed prosthetics that fill gaps in your smile -- are excellent options for enhancing your smile and providing oral health benefits. To learn more about both, call or schedule a consultation online today.
Crowns and Bridges Q & A
What are crowns and bridges?
A dental crown is a porcelain cap placed over a damaged tooth to provide protection and improve its appearance. They can also match the appearance of your natural tooth.
Dr. Zahedi may use a crown if:
- You have a discolored, cracked, or chipped tooth
- A tooth is weak from fracturing
- A tooth underwent a root canal
- You need a filling replaced
- An implant or prosthetic requires extra protection
A dental bridge is a fixed dental prosthetic, which means it’s not removable. Dr. Zahedi uses bridges to replace missing teeth. A bridge spans the gap in your smile, whether it’s for one missing tooth or several, and is either supported by implants or adjoined to surrounding teeth.
How do crowns and bridges work?
Typically, a dental crown procedure requires you to come in for two office visits. At your first appointment, Dr. Zahedi assesses your tooth. In some cases, he may need to file it down using special tools. This reduces its size, making for a better fit with your crown.
Then, he takes images or impressions of your affected tooth, which he sends to a specialized dental lab where they custom-make a crown for you.
At your second appointment, Dr. Zahedi bonds your crown on with adhesive materials. Typically, after about a few weeks, your dental crown will feel like a normal tooth.
Bridges are also made using impressions of your mouth. Once a dental lab custom-makes your bridge, Dr. Zahedi either bonds the bridge to adjacent teeth, attaches it to an implant, or combines both options during an in-office procedure.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
With proper care, your crown should last a minimum of 15 years while bridges should last at least five years, but they can last up to 15 years. Proper care entails brushing and flossing regularly, maintaining your regular dental cleanings and checkups, and eating a healthy diet.
Call or schedule a consultation online today to find out if you're a good candidate for either a crown or bridge.
