Crown and Bridge Work
in Buffalo, Amherst, Lancaster and Orchard Park, NY
In his Buffalo area office, Dr. Larry Evola uses crowns and bridges to correct missing teeth, bite dysfunction, and functional or structural problems. A crown, or cap, may be constructed to restore an individual damaged tooth back to its original form and function, while a bridge may be used to replace one or more teeth. Prostheses such as these are available in porcelain or gold.
What are Dental Crowns?
When tooth decay requires treatment beyond the scope of fillings, a tooth crown or cap is usually the answer. It's a covering to replace the part of your tooth above the gum line.
Crowns are necessary when teeth are broken down due to decay, fracture, or bite problems or when they just need to look better. They can be placed on the decayed tooth's natural root, if it's still healthy, or on an implanted artificial root.
They can be used to:
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Cover badly shaped or discolored teeth
- Protect weak teeth
- Attach a bridge
Dental Crown Procedure
- During your first visit:
- The tooth to be repaired is prepared by removing all decay and damage.
- Dr. Evola will take an impression of the tooth and send that impression, or mold, to the dental lab where your crown will be custom-made.
- While you wait for the permanent crown to be made, you can have a temporary crown to cover that tooth, protecting it and giving you a better chewing surface.
- In your second visit, approximately two weeks after the first:
- Dr. Evola will attach the crown temporarily and have you bite down, to test the crown's shape.
- If necessary, he'll do some fine-tuning, until your teeth meet in a correct and comfortable way.
- When both you and he are satisfied with the fit, Dr. Evola will use dental cement to permanently attach the crown, and it becomes your new tooth.
Dental Bridges
When single or multiple teeth are missing, Dr. Evola may recommend a bridge. A bridge is a replacement tooth or teeth anchored by teeth on each side of the missing one. The anchor teeth require crowns to support the bridge.
Problems caused by missing teeth
Not only are missing teeth visually unappealing, but they can cause further dental problems, and even affect your overall health. Here are a few of the problems caused by gaps from missing teeth:
- Your remaining teeth can start migrating to fill the gap. This puts them out of proper alignment, which can badly affect your bite.
- Teeth out of alignment will wear more quickly.
- A gap left long enough will cause the nearby bone to deteriorate.
- A shrinking jawbone will change the shape of your face and cause you to age more quickly than you normally would.
Dental Bridge Procedure
Like the dental crown procedure described earlier, dental bridges can be created and attached in two visits to our office.
- At your first appointment:
- Dr. Evola will prepare the anchor teeth to have crowns placed on them.
- He will take an impression of not just the anchor teeth, but the space where the bridge will be as well.
- He will send the mold to the dental lab, where it will take two weeks to create the crowns and bridge.
- While you're waiting for the dental lab to complete their work, Dr. Evola will fit you with a temporary bridge.
- During your second appointment:
- Dr. Evola will fit the crowns, with the false tooth or teeth suspended between them, and do any necessary adjustments before cementing the crowns.
If you have teeth that are decayed or damaged beyond what a filling can fix or have missing teeth that require a bridge, you need to call or email Forestream Dental Group today. Dr. Evola and his staff have experience in this type of restorative dentistry and can make your smile look beautiful and natural again in a short period of time.
If you're not quite ready to schedule an appointment for dental work, you can take advantage of a complimentary consultation with Dr. Evola to have all your crowns and bridges questions and concerns answered.
Creating Smiles and Changing Lives. Every Day.
4711 Transit Road, Forestream Village
Depew, NY 14043
E-mail Us • (716)656-8686
