Dental Crowns & Bridges FAQ's in Yarmouth ME

A crown is a hard “shell,” made of very sturdy materials. They are usually formed with porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or even gold. Because of this, they are very durable and, with proper care, likely to last you a lifetime.

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Although they are a long-term solution, dental crowns do not last forever. The best way to prevent yours from coming loose or getting damaged is by committing to good oral hygiene habits (i.e., flossing consistently, wearing a mouthguard during sports, brushing your teeth twice a day). Of course, it’s equally as important to avoid bad ones as well, including smoking, eating extremely crunchy foods, and skipping your biannual dental checkups.

During your biannual visits, our dedicated Yarmouth dentist, Dr. Nguyen, will examine the condition of your dental crown. Between visits, it’s important that you keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble, like pain when biting down, instability, or a dark line at the crown’s base. If that’s the case, then take the next step: reach out to us so we can learn more about your symptoms and determine if a same-day visit to our office is necessary.

Dental crowns are artificial, so they cannot decay! Of course, your underlying tooth can still develop a cavity, and your gums can develop an infection, so it’s important that you don’t let your commitment to good oral hygiene habits wane. In other words, even though dental crowns are cavity-proof, you still need to brush and floss consistently at home and come to our office every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning.

They do! After all, they are custom-made for each patient, ensuring they don’t protrude unnaturally or feel bulky. Plus, they are durable enough to stand up to everyday chewing forces, and the materials they are crafted from are smooth, so it won’t feel weird when you run your tongue over the surface. Basically, with enough time, you may even forget which tooth has a crown!

Temporary crowns look very similar to permanent crowns, but they are quite different. One of the biggest differences is that they are bonded with a weak cement so that they can easily be removed when it’s time to place your permanent crown. As a result, we ask that you don’t chew on that side of your mouth and that you exercise caution when brushing and flossing around it. Of course, once your permanent crown is securely in place, you won’t have to take the same precautions.

Although dental crowns look and feel just like your real teeth, there are a few considerable differences between the two, including that dental crowns cannot be whitened. Fortunately, they are made from stain-resistant materials, so noticeable discoloration typically isn’t a big concern. Of course, if there comes a time when you are no longer happy with the color of your restoration, you can always schedule an appointment with us so we can review your treatment options.

A dental bridge is similar to a dental crown but uses a slightly different technique. Where a crown is a single cap that fits on a single tooth, a dental bridge is composed of three crowns joined together. However, the crown in the middle isn’t a crown at all, but a full replacement tooth.

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With a dental bridge, the other two crowns are designed to sit on two teeth adjacent to the space where a tooth used to be. In this case, the two teeth may need to be filed and altered to make them a better fit for the bridge. Once the bridge is attached, it’s a snug fit that is unlikely to require further readjustment.

The dental bridge works by restoring a full, artificial tooth where there was none before. This helps to maintain the shape of the teeth, and prevent undue stress for pushing teeth out of alignment.

Yes, there are. One other option is known as a dental implant. This involves fixing a titanium screw into your gums and into the bone itself, then affixing an artificial tooth to that. This is a much more comprehensive and permanent solution to either the crown or bridge, but can also be significantly more expensive.