Crowns are for the royalty, and bridges are for the roads. These are the most common uses of the terms crowns and bridges. Nevertheless, in dentistry, these two terms mean more than kings, queens, and highways. Crowns and bridges are essential to dental health.
A dental crown refers to the part of the teeth which is covered by the enamel. It is the visible part of the teeth structure, from the gum surface up to the edge of the teeth. Crown owes its name to the shape of crowns worn by kings and queens. Because of this, dentists frequently call it the human anatomical crown.
The crown is composed of two layers: the enamel and the dentin. The enamel comprises the upper part of the crown. It is the hardest and strongest part of the teeth structure, made up of hard crystal and calcium minerals. Enamel covers the dentin, the softer part of the teeth, for protection. The enamel is the most visible part of our teeth.
Bridges are fixed removable dentures which replace one or more missing teeth. Bacteria feed on the sugar deposited in the teeth when a person does not maintain proper oral hygiene. This results in tooth decay, which can damage the entire teeth structure leading to teeth loss. A tooth bridge is created to replace the lost tooth by the dentist. Murfreesboro, TN dentists ensure that the tooth bridge will perfectly fit the patients tooth for better function and to maintain correct teeth alignment.
Bridges are supported by natural teeth, implants, or a combination of both. Traditional ones are inserted by recapping the adjacent teeth with new crowns to support the bridge. During regular visits to a dentist, Murfreesboro TN patients have their remaining teeth examined to check on the strength and durability of each one. This is to determine if the patient will still need root canal therapy. Nevertheless, some teeth might need to be removed to give way to tooth bridges. Traditional bridges are made up of porcelain-fused or metal-fused ceramics.
Proper oral hygiene is necessary to keep the crown strong, as well as to avoid teeth loss. Recapping procedures, or replacing the teeth crown, takes at least two sessions in the office of a dentist.Murfreesboro TN patients may need more than two sessions for their bridge implants, depending on the gravity of the patients tooth loss. .