Our expertise with crown bridges, implants, dentures, and other restorative dentistry are the fastest way back to a strong bite and beautiful smile.
Restorative Dentistry
Crowns
A crown, or cap as some people call it, is a tooth restoration for many purposes. A crown is a tooth-like restoration that is used to cover up the tooth. The existing tooth is smoothed down on the top and sides to make room for a crown to fit. The dentist then takes an impression or model of the tooth. It is then mailed to a lab where the crown is made. In the meantime, the patient goes home with a temporary crown that looks and feels like the final crown. At a second appointment, typically two weeks later, the crown is cemented to the existing tooth. Crowns can be all porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. It is important to talk to your dentist to find out what is best for your mouth.
Crowns are recommended for a number of reasons. Broken teeth, misaligned teeth, root canal treated teeth, teeth badly worn, and enamel defects can all be corrected. The most common reason for a crown is for a tooth that breaks because of a large existing filling. When a large filling is placed, it compromises the strength of the tooth. To prevent it from breaking, a crown is placed that will protect the tooth. Crowns have been a common procedure for many years and they last a very long time with good home care and professional cleanings.
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Cosmetic Solutions with Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a custom-made artificial tooth cap that completely covers a chipped, cracked or damaged tooth. The tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. The crown, when cemented into place, fully encases the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gum line. Crowns can be made from a number of different materials. All-ceramic crowns are milled out of blocks of solid porcelain to match the shade and color of your tooth.
Most commonly, dental crowns are a restoration procedure for teeth needing more structural support and long-lasting protection than cavity fillings or inlays. Dental crowns can be used in connection with a variety of procedures in cosmetic dentistry:
- Dental Implants: Dental crowns are used to cap the metal rod implant in place of a missing tooth.
- Dental Bridges: Dental crowns on the teeth adjacent to the bridge serve as anchors for the bridge to clamp onto for support.
- Root Canal Therapy: Dental crowns protect brittle teeth after root canal therapy.
Advantages of Dental Crowns
Support for the Tooth
While dental veneers only conceal the front surface of a tooth, dental crowns cover the entire damaged tooth, restoring functionality, shape, size, and strength to the tooth. This is especially important for posterior teeth where up to 150-200 lbs. of pressure can be placed on the teeth while chewing.
Long Lasting
Dental crowns are designed to last several years when accompanied by good oral hygiene. On average, they last at least ten years, but generally much longer depending on the type of crown and oral health of the patient.
Preserve The Tooth
Dental crowns seal the damaged teeth off from bacteria in the saliva that can cause teeth to deteriorate. They can also hold together cracked teeth, preserving their functionality.
Natural Looking Results
The dental lab can custom mold dental crowns that closely match the curves and shape of your other teeth.
Fixed Bridges
A bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth in a patient’s mouth. A bridge is an extension of a crown because the procedure is a lot the same. A tooth on each side of the missing tooth space is smoothed down on the tops and side. An impression is taken from which a model is fabricated. The model is then used by the dental lab to fabricate the bridge. In the meantime, the patient is sent home with a temporary bridge. It is possible to replace numerous missing teeth, but the dentist needs to do a thorough exam to determine what the best option is.
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A bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. Types of bridges may vary, depending upon how they are fabricated and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth. Conventionally, bridges are made using the indirect method of restoration. However, bridges can be fabricated directly in the mouth using such materials as composite resin.
Other tooth replacement solutions include:
- Dental implants
- Dentures
Implants
Implants are an amazing treatment option to replace missing teeth. A titanium post is placed into the bone and fuses into place. A crown is then placed on top of the post. It looks exactly like a real tooth and nobody will notice the difference. It also functions like a real tooth and you will never notice the difference. The great thing about implants is there success rate. They are truly the best treatment option when it comes to replacing a missing tooth. They don’t involve cutting on the adjacent teeth like a bridge. They also have a longer life span than a fixed bridge.
Another use for implants is to anchor a denture into place. Sometimes dentures have poor retention due to a lack of bone present to retain them. In these cases, implants are placed into the bone. Special attachments are screwed into the implant. These attachments match attachment units on the denture to help anchor the denture. They help give stability to the denture so that they function better.
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When you are faced with a missing tooth, you have a few options to consider. Modern dental prosthetics offer viable solutions for people regardless of age and budget. Many people choose dental implants because they are totally secure and no other teeth need to be treated to replace the missing tooth. Bridges and dentures are also popular alternatives.
Dr. Manuel Englander is very experienced in this area and has helped many people in the Edina area solve their tooth loss situations.
Prosthodontics, (also known as dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry), is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.
Tooth replacement options include:
- Dental Implants
- Bridges
- Dentures
Dentures
A removable denture is used to replace missing teeth in a patient’s mouth. The difference between a denture and a bridge is that a denture can be removed while a bridge is cemented in. Removable dentures are made of pink acrylic as a base and plastic teeth. The denture acrylic is very natural looking and the teeth used come in many different shades and shapes. Your dentist is trained to pick teeth that will be very unnoticeable. A denture can replace a couple teeth or all your teeth. Sometimes a fixed bridge is not an option because there is not a tooth available on each side of the area where teeth are missing. This is where a removable denture is a treatment option. There are two kinds of removable dentures, a partial or full denture.
A partial removable denture uses the existing teeth to help hold the denture into place. Metal arms are fabricated that hold onto the existing teeth to make it stable. The metal arms are hidden so that other people do not notice. If they can’t be hidden, there are techniques that can be employed to hide them so that no one knows you are wearing a denture.
A full removable denture is used when there are no existing teeth available. It stays in by using suction. The same acrylic and teeth used in a partial denture are used in a full denture. Typically, upper full dentures fit well because they suction to the palate. Lower dentures don’t fit as well because the tongue always pushes the denture around. Another contributing factor to the fit is the remaining bone. The more bone that remains creates more surface area for the acrylic of the denture to suction into place. If the denture doesn’t fit real well, sometimes adhesives can be used. If these don’t work, implants can be used to help hold the denture into place. It is very important to sit down with your dentist and discuss what the best treatment plan is for you.
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Dentures are prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth. Conventional dentures are removable; however, there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental implants.
Removable Dentures
Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing some of their teeth on a particular arch.
Fixed Dentures
Fixed partial dentures are made from crowns that are fitted on the remaining teeth to act as abutments and pontics made from materials to resemble the missing teeth.
Implant Dentures
An implant-retained denture is a denture held in place by implants. Usually two to four implants are surgically placed in the bone and become anchored as the bone heals and secures itself to the implant. Once the bone has healed, Dr. Manuel Englander can create an implant denture. An implant denture is a removable denture with attachments on the underside that clip onto a bar connected to the implants. The attachments and bar hold the denture in place and keep it from moving when chewing and speaking. Implant dentures can be classified into two groups: Implant Retained Dentures and Implant Supported Dentures. Implant Retained Dentures are held in place by the attachments, but are mainly supported by the bone and gum tissue as is a conventional denture. Implant Supported Dentures are for patients who do not have sufficient bone and supporting gum tissue. This denture is mainly supported by the bar attached to the implants.
Other solutions for tooth replacement include:
- Dental Implants
- Dental Bridges
Removable Appliances
Treatment For Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition in which you grind or clench your teeth. Some people are not even aware that they do this and may unconsciously clench their teeth together during the day or at night while they are sleeping. The evidence is often visible from wear on their teeth, headaches or neck pain symptoms. Treatment can include appliances such as nightguards or jaw exercises. Our expert dentists will do an examination and find a comfortable and effective solution.