Fillings, Crowns & Bridges in Vinings

What Are Dental Fillings for Teeth?

When you have a cavity, decay has eaten a hole in your tooth’s enamel. Your dentist will remove the decay with a drill and then place a filling material in the hole. The tooth filling material restores the tooth and prevents further damage.

What Is a Tooth Crown and a Tooth Bridge?

Both crowns and bridges are fixed restorations; they are cemented in place so only a dentist can remove them. Crowns for teeth are tooth-shaped caps which cover chipped, broken, discolored, or cracked teeth. Bridges hide a gap from a missing tooth with an artificial one secured by two crowns which go over the adjoining teeth. If you have questions about crowns or bridges, or you want to schedule an appointment, please call our office.

Who Should I See for a Tooth Filling, Crown, or Bridge?

General dentists, such as our skilled providers offer fillings and other restorative dental services. Since general dentists perform preventative exams, it makes sense that they would fill cavities and advise their patients who may need a crown or tooth bridge. Please call our office if you want to schedule an exam or talk to a dentist about restoring a tooth with a crown or replacing a missing tooth with a bridge.

How Much Will a Tooth Crown, Bridge, or Tooth Filling Cost?

Your cost for a filling will depend on the tooth’s location and the material you select for the filling. The type of crown and the tooth’s condition determine your dental crown cost. We calculate your dental bridge cost on the material used and the number of artificial teeth in the bridge. If you have dental insurance coverage, it will affect your final cost. Please call our office to schedule an exam with one of our dentists. He or she will assess your needs, go over your options and explain your expected cost.

What Are the Different Tooth Fillings?

The two main types of fillings are amalgam and composite resin. Amalgam fillings are strong, safe, economical, and highly visible, especially when they darken. Composite resin fillings are nearly invisible since a dentist can match the material to the color of your tooth. They don’t last as long as amalgam fillings. However, some patients feel the tradeoff is worth it if people cannot see their filling.

What Are Different Kinds of Dental Caps?

There are three types of crowns which are the most common; all porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal and gold. All porcelain crowns are the most aesthetically pleasing, dentists use them for upper front teeth. They may be too fragile to use elsewhere. Gold crowns are very strong; however, patients usually only consider them for teeth in the very back of the mouth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer an excellent compromise: they look nearly as good as all porcelain, but they are stronger and suitable for teeth anywhere in the mouth.

What Are the Most Common Dental Bridges?

Most people get a traditional bridge with a crown on each end for the abutment teeth. There are cantilever bridges, which use just one abutment tooth, but they are only suitable for use in the front of the mouth. While a traditional bridge can replace several adjacent missing teeth, a cantilever bridge can only replace one tooth.

What Are the Steps in Crown Placement?

There are only a few steps, although you will need to come in for two visits about two weeks apart. During the first visit, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic and remove some of your tooth’s enamel to accommodate the crown. Next, he or she will take an impression of your teeth so the dental lab can create a realistic restoration. When you leave the office, you’ll have a temporary crown to protect the altered tooth. On your subsequent visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and cement your new, custom crown in place.

What Are the Steps for a Bridge Placement?

The bridge process has the same number of steps as the crown process and getting a bridge also takes two visits. When you come in for your first visit, your dentist will numb the area where he or she will work. With a traditional bridge, your dentist will prepare two of your teeth for crowns. Your dentist sends an impression to the lab so they can create a bridge which closely resembles your natural teeth in color, size, and shape. You’ll have a temporary bridge to wear until your permanent bridge is ready. If you’re considering a bridge and have questions about the process, please call our office.