Dental Crowns and Bridges
A dental crown restores a broken, damaged, or decayed tooth, while a dental bridge replaces one or more adjacent missing teeth. Depending on your needs, both are excellent ways to restore a compromised smile back to health and beauty.
When Do We Recommend Dental Crowns in Brea?
Dr. Lee would recommend a tooth crown for you in these situations:
- When a tooth is cracked, fractured, or decayed beyond the scope of what a filling can repair.
- To rebuild and strengthen a tooth that’s had root canal treatment.
- As a restoration for a single tooth dental implant.
- To restore a tooth with an old, extensive, broken restoration like a filling.
- To cover a tooth that’s misshapen or discolored for cosmetic reasons.
If you need a dental crown, rest assured that it will cover your natural tooth completely and closely mimic its shape and structure to give you full eating and chewing function. In addition, Dr. Lee will customize shading for your porcelain crown to ensure it complements and blends with your smile.
When Do We Recommend a Dental Bridge in Brea?
Dental bridges are an excellent fixed solution for replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental crowns act as anchors for one or more prosthetic teeth housed in between. The crowns anchor to healthy teeth, fill the gaps in your smile and restore chewing function so you can comfortably enjoy your food and smile again confidently.
A bridge can be ideal for someone who’s not a dental implant candidate or doesn’t want to go through implant surgery.
The Crown and Bridge Process
Getting a tooth crown or a bridge is a similar process and typically takes two appointments with Dr. Lee. During the first visit, Dr. Lee will take impressions of your smile, prepare your tooth or
teeth for the crown or bridge and make temporary restorations that you’ll wear while a dental lab creates your final crown or bridge.
It typically takes the dental lab two to three weeks to handcraft your ceramic porcelain crown or bridge. Then, when it’s ready, you’ll return to Brea Olinda Family Dentistry for your second appointment, where Dr. Lee will permanently place your crown or bridge.
After he makes any needed adjustments to your restoration to ensure correct bite function, you’re ready to eat, smile, and enjoy your new dental crown or bridge.
Contact Your Team at Brea Premier Dentistry
If you have a tooth that needs repair or you’re looking into tooth replacement options, we encourage you to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Lee to learn more about your options.
You can book your appointment online or call us at ( 714) 529-5999 and speak with one of our friendly team members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental restorations like crowns and fillings can last many years with proper care.
At Brea Premier Dentistry, Dr. Lee uses the highest quality materials available to give you excellent results when you need a restoration for your tooth.
Dental fillings are ideal for repairing small areas of a tooth compromised by decay. Dr. Lee uses composite resin, which is a durable, customizable material that blends in seamlessly with your tooth. When you take good care of your fillings with daily brushing, flossing, and routine checkups, they can last 10 to 12 years and possibly longer.
A dental crown is the restoration your Brea dentist will recommend if your tooth is problematic beyond what a filling can repair. A crown covers your tooth completely but restores its shape, form, and function. Dr. Lee can custom-shade your porcelain crown to blend perfectly with your smile.
Taking good care of your dental crown is similar to taking care of fillings with daily brushing, flossing, and routine dental checkups every six months. However, you'll also want to avoid certain foods that can damage or pull your crown off, like:
- Sticky foods like taffy or caramels
- Chewy foods like steak
- Hard foods like apples or carrots - cut into small pieces to eat
Contact Your Brea Dentist
When you take good care of your dental crown, it can serve you for around 12 to 15 years, possibly longer! Get started today.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Kevin Lee
Dr. Kevin Lee earned a BS in human biology at the University of California, San Diego, his DDS at the University of Maryland Dental School, and his General Practice Residency (GPR) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Lee decided to become a dentist after going on a humanitarian medical mission trip to Mexico. During this trip, he witnessed many patients with missing teeth and poor overall dental health affecting their quality of life.
Dr. Lee's favorite aspect of being a dentist is the interaction he has with his patients and the ability to ...
Dental Crowns and Bridges Technology
Digital Impressions
If you've had dental work done in the past, you probably understand how uncomfortable and messy impressions of your teeth could be. Well, gone are the days of using a goopy material to capture the impression, now we can scan a 3-D image of your tooth that is much more comfortable and efficient for you.