Tooth fillings, crowns, & bridges in Moorestown

What Does a Filling Involve?

Dental fillings are the go-to method for repairing a decayed tooth. When you need a filling, your dentist uses their tools to remove the decayed dental materials and clean the tooth. Then, they fill in the hole left behind with special materials such as porcelain or gold to make the tooth strong again. Although dentists occasionally need to replace fillings, they should last for many years.

How Do Dental Crowns and Bridges Work?

Crowns, which are sometimes referred to as dental caps, are prosthetic devices that dentists use to restore teeth with significant damage. Bridges use prosthetic teeth to fill in gaps after extractions, and dentists often use crowns to help hold them in place.

Unlike removable dentures, crowns and bridges are affixed in your mouth using high-bond cement that requires a dentist’s assistance to remove. Occasionally, implants are used to support bridges for a more permanent smile enhancement.

Which Type of Dentist Does Tooth Fillings, Crowns, and Bridges?

Your friendly neighborhood general dentist can provide you with crowns for teeth along with fillings and bridges. After you receive a general dental exam, our dentist can consult with you about your options for restorative treatment when it is necessary. 

Are There Different Types of Tooth Fillings That Dentists Offer?

When you need a front tooth filling, you might worry about it being visible when you smile. Fortunately, our dentists have options for filling materials that include tooth-colored composite and porcelain that are virtually undetectable when you smile.

Sometimes, our dentists recommend using silver amalgam or gold for increased strength in teeth that are out of your smile zone. Either way, you can expect the materials to last as you enjoy your favorite foods.

What Are the Various Types of Crowns?

Similar to fillings, your dentist can choose from a variety of materials to fit specific needs. A ceramic, front-tooth crown can be matched to the rest of your teeth, and the same is true of porcelain crowns. Meanwhile, gold or silver crowns are an option for back teeth. Porcelain and metal can also be combined to provide you with the best of both worlds in modern dentistry.

Do Bridges Come in Different Models?

Bridge types are typically defined by how they fit in your mouth. For instance, a front teeth bridge involves using pontic, or artificial, teeth that are attached to the abutment teeth on each side using crowns. Cantilever dental bridges are what dentists use when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the area they need to fill in.

What Should I Expect When Getting a Tooth Crown?

A typical crown procedure involves three main steps. First, you’ll visit your dentist who will shape and prepare the impacted tooth. Next, they’ll get an impression of the tooth that they’ll use to fabricate your permanent crown. You’ll typically go home with a temporary crown after this visit that ensures your comfort until your final crown is ready.

When it is, you’ll come back to our office to have the permanent crown cemented in place. You can typically plan for each phase of the crown procedure to take around 30 minutes to one hour.

Can You Walk Me Through What Happens During a Tooth Bridge Procedure?

Getting a dental bridge involves the same or very similar steps to getting a crown. However, your dentist will be working on multiple teeth, since they’ll need to shape the abutments for crowns. You’ll also receive a temporary bridge to wear until the final bridge is placed and adjusted to fit your mouth comfortably.

It’s common to have lots of questions about tooth restorations, and we’re available to give you the answers you need to feel confident about proceeding with smile improvements. Give our knowledgeable team a call at any time to learn more about fillings, crowns, and bridges in Moorestown and to begin the process of restoring your smile.