Providing Patients near The Woodlands with Attractive Porcelain Crowns and Dental Bridges

Do you have a tooth that is badly damaged, or a gap left by missing teeth that needs to be filled?  A dental crown or bridge may be an excellent solution.  At The Texas Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, our cosmetic dentists provide patients in The Woodlands, Houston, and surrounding communities with beautiful porcelain crowns and dental bridges.  In addition to restoring oral functioning, these restorations are so good-looking that we often use them in cosmetic dentistry treatments as part of a smile makeover.

• Porcelain Crowns
• Dental Bridges

Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns are an extremely versatile cosmetic and restorative dentistry treatment option.  They can be used to cover a natural tooth (for example, to protect a broken or discolored tooth, cover a tooth after root canal treatment, or to anchor a dental bridge).  Alternatively, a crown can be placed over a dental implant to fill the gap left by a missing tooth.  Modern crowns are made of beautiful tooth-colored porcelain that is amazingly natural-looking; visit our Smile Makeover Gallery to see some examples of the results some of our patients in the Houston area have enjoyed with porcelain crowns.

Placement of Porcelain Crowns

Typically, two visits to our office in The Woodlands are required to place porcelain crowns.  The dentist begins both visits by administering local anesthesia.  In the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth for the crown, makes impressions of the teeth and mouth, and sends these impressions to a dental laboratory, where technicians will custom-craft the crown.  The dentist concludes the first visit by placing a temporary crown, which the patient will wear for about two weeks until the permanent crown is ready.  At this point, the patient returns to our office to have the permanent crown placed.  In this visit, the dentist places the crown over the natural tooth to be treated and assures its fit with the surrounding teeth and bite.  The resulting restoration can last for some time with proper upkeep.

 

(The placement process for implant-supported porcelain crowns is slightly different; learn more about the implant dentistry process.) 

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Dental Bridges

When a patient is missing several teeth in a row, we often recommend a dental bridge, or partial denture.  Bridges anchor an artificial tooth or teeth between the surrounding natural teeth.  The teeth or tooth beside the gap is covered by dental crowns for added protection.  (We also provide implant-supported (partial) dentures, which do not rely on support from the surrounding teeth.)  In our commitment to providing the best cosmetic result, we provide attractive dental bridges that are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.

Placement of Dental Bridges

Two visits to our office near Houston are necessary to place dental bridges.  The steps required to place bridges are similar to those for porcelain crowns.  In the first visit, the dentist shaves down the tooth or teeth beside the gap to accommodate the crowns (this step may not be necessary for implant-supported bridges).  Then, he makes a mold of the teeth and mouth and sends it to the laboratory that will craft the restoration.  He may also place a temporary restoration for the patient to wear until the permanent version is ready.  In the second visit, the dentist removes the temporary bridge, places the crowns on the natural teeth, bonds the dental bridge to the crowns, and adjusts the apparatus for optimal comfort.  The patient can then leave our office with an attractive, functional smile. 

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Houston-Area Patients – Contact Us for Porcelain Crowns and Dental Bridges

If you need treatment for a damaged or missing tooth, a dental crown or bridge may be an excellent option.  We are pleased to provide patients in The Woodlands, Houston, and surrounding areas with beautiful porcelain crowns and dental bridges.  To learn more about how you may benefit from these treatments, contact the Texas Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry to schedule a consultation. 

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