Fillings, Crowns & Bridges in Sweetwater

What Are Fillings for Teeth?

When you have a cavity, the decay eats a hole in your tooth. Your dentist will remove the decay and fill the hole with the tooth filling material you’ve selected. Most people have at least one filling in their mouth; by age 39, over 86 percent of adults have had at least one cavity filled.

What Are Tooth Crowns and Dental Bridges?

Crowns for teeth cover broken or discolored teeth or teeth which have had a root canal. Your dentist places a crown over an existing tooth, and your crown will blend seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. Bridges replace missing teeth with pontics, or artificial teeth. Bridges consist of pontics and crowns on each end to cover the adjacent teeth which will hold the bridge. If you need either a crown or a bridge, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

Which Types of Dentists Offer Restorations?

General or family dentists offer fillings, crowns and bridges to repair and replace patient’s teeth. General dentists are often the dental professionals that catch decay in its early stage. If you need an exam by a general dentist or you would like to talk to a dentist about replacing a missing tooth, please call our office and request an appointment.

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

We determine your cost for dental fillings by the filling material you select and the condition of your tooth. We also base your dental crown cost on the type of crown and the condition of your tooth. Your dental bridge cost depends on the material and the number of artificial teeth in the bridge. Call us to make an appointment and your dentist will go over the cost of the restoration you need. If you have dental insurance coverage, this will affect your cost.

What Are the Different Tooth Filling Materials?

The two most common filling materials are amalgam and composite resin. Amalgam or silver fillings, consist of zinc, tin, silver, and copper. Amalgam fillings are economical, so patients often select them for back teeth. Patients who have a cavity in a front tooth frequently select tooth-colored composite resin fillings. You can also select gold or porcelain fillings. Your dentist will help you select the best filling material for you.

Which Tooth Crown Materials Are Best?

There is no best crown material for everyone. Gold is the strongest, most durable option, highly suitable for crowns for molars. All porcelain is the most aesthetically pleasing, but all porcelain crowns are not strong enough to withstand the chewing force of molars. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are strong and almost as lifelike as all porcelain. If you need a crown, please call our office. One of our dentists will go over your choices in detail with you.

Which Tooth Bridge Types Are Available?

There are conventional bridges, the most common type of bridge, which consist of crowns for the healthy teeth on either side of the bridge and artificial teeth to replace the missing teeth. If there is only one tooth to hold the bridge, your dentist may suggest a cantilever tooth bridge. Cantilever bridges are only suitable for front teeth. Implant-supported bridges don’t need any adjacent for support. If you want to replace missing teeth, call us to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, and he or she goes over your options with you.

CEREC Same Day Crowns

CEREC CAD/CAM technology has been under continuous development since the mid-80’s. It can be used to make several different types of all-ceramic restorations, such as full or partial coverage crowns, porcelain veneers, and porcelain inlays (fillings).

The vast majority of the time we only need a single visit to complete the case. Our office has our own porcelain oven with a variety of porcelain tints/shades so the results can be spectacular. Our office has the full setup to custom match most shades and then glaze the restoration to make them look and feel so much better than merely polishing them.

What Should I Expect When I Get a Tooth Crown?

Getting a crown involves two visits to our dental office. On the first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and choose a tooth shade so the lab making the crown can fabricate it to look as natural as possible. Next, your dentist will prepare the tooth and place a temporary crown on it. On your subsequent visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and place your permanent crown.

What Should I Expect When I Get a Bridge?

It will take two visits to our office to get a bridge. First, your dentist will make a mold of your teeth for the dental lab so they can fabricate a bridge which blends in with your other teeth. Your dentist will prepare the teeth for crowns and fit you with a temporary bridge. Once your permanent bridge is ready, you’ll return and your dentist will remove the temporary bridge. After ensuring your new bridge fits well, your dentist will cement it in place.