Dental Crowns and Bridges in Lafayette, CA
Missing, decayed, or weakened teeth are often more than just a cosmetic concern. These tooth problems can have a bearing on your ability to speak clearly and chew food properly. Standard dental appliances, like crowns and bridges, offer an excellent solution to restore the appearance and function of your smile. At LALA Dental in Lafayette, California, Dr. Meshkin provides natural-looking dental crowns and bridges to reinstate your oral functions and smile aesthetics.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a restorative device placed over a natural tooth, affected by decay and trauma. They also act as an effective replacement for a missing tooth and a protective shield for a tooth that has been treated for a root canal infection. Crowns are customized to match your natural teeth' shape, size, and color. Once they have been fixed in the mouth, they will blend in with your smile.
The Procedure for Dental Crown
First, after ensuring you are comfortably numb, Dr. Meshkin will optimally reshape your affected tooth to allow your future crown to fit over it securely. Next, a impression of your reshaped tooth will be taken and sent to a lab for its fabrication. She will take care to match your new crown with the surrounding teeth.
Before you leave our office, a temporary crown will be placed to protect the prepared tooth until she places the permanent restoration. Once your crown is ready, she will fix the appliance using adhesives. A bite test is done to ensure its correct fit.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is used to fill in the void left by one missing tooth or multiple consecutive missing teeth. The two ends of a bridge are fixed to the adjacent teeth on both sides of the gap. Dental bridges restore everyday functions such as chewing and biting and prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting their positions near the space. As a result, possible bite issues and other problems are averted.
The Procedure for Dental Bridges
In preparation for the bridge, Dr. Meshkin will shape the anchoring teeth on either side of the void. Next digital impressions of the shaped teeth and surrounding area are captured and sent to a laboratory to construct your bridge appliance.
Once she receives your bridge from the lab, which may take a few weeks, she will remove your temporary bridge and permanently bond your new bridge in position so you will be functioning and smiling just like you would with your natural teeth. To take care of your dental bridge, brush and floss as usual, and schedule regular dental appointments. With efficient maintenance, they can last for years.
To learn more about our crown & bridge restorations, visit the LALA Dental office at 895 Moraga Rd Suite 6, Lafayette, CA 94549. You can also reachDr. Meshkin in Lafayette CA at (925) 385-8858.