There are several reasons your dentist may recommend a crown! They include: ● To protect a weak tooth (stress crack, fractured cusp, wear and tear, thin enamel, attrition from grinding, acid erosion) from breaking or cracking ● To cover a severely discolored tooth ● To cover a tooth that has had a root canal ● To cover a dental implant ● To hold a dental bridge in place

A dental bridge fills the gap caused by one or more missing teeth. A dental bridge is anchored by placing crowns (caps) on the existing natural teeth flanking the bridge (abutment teeth). An artificial tooth, a pontic, is then securely attached to the crowns of the abutment teeth to replace the missing tooth.

With proper oral hygiene care and under normal wear-and-tear, the average lifespan of a crown is 10-15 years.

A tooth that needs a crown is weak and stressed to begin with. Though a dental crown provides protection to a tooth with a large filling, it is possible that the decay has extended deeply enough, causing the nerve to die. Another scenario resulting in abscess of a crowned tooth occurs when the tooth has a crack that runs much deeper than what the x-Ray reveals. The crack will worsen over time and eventually compromise the tooth.

A bridge is recommended to replace one or more teeth lost due to decay, physical trauma or periodontal disease. A dental bridge can be a treatment option when the gap has healthy teeth adjacent to it. A dental bridge is also a good option for individuals who are not good candidates for implants.

With proper oral hygiene, regular cleaning, and checkups, dental bridges can last over 10 years. The success of the bridge will depend on the health and strength of the surrounding teeth to which the bridge is anchored. One of the reasons bridges fail earlier than expected is due to recurrent decay on the crowned abutment teeth.

The duration of a cosmetic dentistry procedure at Parkview Dental Associates SC varies depending on the specific treatment. Teeth whitening can be completed in one visit, while veneers and Invisalign may require multiple appointments over several weeks or months. Our team will provide a detailed treatment timeline during your consultation.

The empty space left by missing one or more teeth can lead to bone loss which may change the shape of the face. Furthermore, the empty space can cause the remaining teeth to shift over time which result in misalignment of the surrounding teeth and distortment of the normal bite. Dental bridges can prevent bone loss from the jaw at the site of the missing tooth, thus maintaining normal facial structure. However, in order to anchor the bridge, the abutment teeth need to be reshaped by removing some of their enamal. This could weaken the otherwise healthy teeth and increase the risk of failure down the road.

Eating hard foods, such as ice chips, may cause your crown to crack (especially if you have a porcelain crown). Grinding or clenching your teeth can also accelerate the breakdown of the crown. To extend the lifetime of a crown, brush and floss every day and limit eating hard foods. If you tend to grind or clench your teeth at night, you might want to consider a night guard to protect your crown and surrounding teeth.