When one of your teeth is damaged, a crown or bridge can improve the health of your mouth. A crown covers the damaged tooth and a bridge consists of fake teeth that fill in the gap. The dentist reshapes the healthy adjacent teeth, called abutment teeth, to support the bridge. This helps your smile look natural. With proper care, a crown and bridge can last for 10-15 years.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns, or tooth crowns, are custom-made caps that a dentist places on damaged teeth. They restore a tooth’s function, strength, and appearance. They are also used to support dental bridges and replace missing teeth.

The best type of crown for you will depend on your needs and preferences. Ceramic and porcelain crowns look very natural and can be matched to the color of your other teeth. They don’t contain any metal, which makes them ideal for front teeth. Metal crowns are more durable than porcelain, and they’re an excellent choice for back molars, which take the most biting pressure.

When you’re getting a crown, you may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold and tenderness around the gums for a few weeks. You’ll need to avoid sticky or hard foods, and take over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen if needed. Your Aria dentist will give you specific instructions about your new crown. They will probably recommend that you see a dental hygienist at least twice per year to keep your mouth healthy and free of plaque.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are a popular replacement option for missing teeth. They replace the gap in your smile and help increase your ability to chew food. They can also help prevent other teeth from shifting into the empty space and causing problems like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), tooth decay and gum disease.

Dental bridges consist of two or more dental crowns that span the empty gap in your smile. The crowns are attached to natural teeth or dental implants called abutments, which serve as anchors for the bridge. An artificial replacement tooth, called a pontic, is then attached to the abutments and fills the missing space.

Getting a dental bridge is a fairly quick and easy procedure. However, it can take some time to get used to having an artificial tooth. Brushing and flossing is important to maintain the health of your bridge and to prevent future problems like decay and gum disease. It is recommended to avoid chewing ice or other hard objects to protect the new tooth and its surrounding healthy teeth.

Crown Length

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure where your periodontist reshapes the gum and bone tissue to expose more of the sound tooth structure. It is usually done for cosmetic reasons, but it can also be used to repair a broken or cracked tooth. The periodontist uses local anesthesia to numb the area, so it shouldn’t be painful. However, the treated teeth may be sensitive to hot or cold for a while.

The Robinson and Hadlock crown-rump length (CRL) curves are commonly used for estimating gestational age during early pregnancy. During these pregnancies, regular checkups and prenatal scans help ensure that the fetus is healthy and growing normally. A CRL measurement below 4 mm is associated with a non-viable fetus, but it’s not the only factor to consider.

Tooth Color

The color of teeth is an important aspect in aesthetic dentistry. Prosthodontists have a daily routine to harmonize tooth shade with facial appearance in fully edentulous patients or complete fixed appliances (dentures). Tooth color assessment is essential for social rehabilitation of denture wearers [1].

Genetics, dietary habits, tobacco use and poor oral hygiene can contribute to the development of discolored teeth over time. Some of these stains can be reversed with professional teeth whitening procedures, but others are not so easy to remove.

While some of these factors are unavoidable, the color of a person’s teeth can reveal a lot about them. For example, the shades of a person’s teeth can indicate their ancestry, age, or diet, and even give away whether or not they’re an athlete! Moreover, some materials resist staining better than others. While a dentist can offer expert advice about the best shades to choose, the final decision should always be based on a person’s own preferences and feelings.