Dental Crowns
& Bridges

At Dental Depot of Oklahoma, our goal is always to help our patients achieve their best oral health, and we understand that sometimes that requires restorative work. If you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth or need to have a tooth extracted, we can customize a crown or bridge that looks, feels, and functions just like natural teeth so you can smile confidently. Our staff of dental professionals includes prosthodontists and general dentists experienced in dental prostheses. We only use the most current state-of-the-art technology, techniques, and diagnostics to deliver your desired care and results.

Why are dental restorations like crowns and bridges important?

Dental restorations are necessary for protecting oral health and re-establishing proper oral function. If teeth are affected by a dental injury or tooth decay, they can often be treated with a simple restoration to prevent further deterioration of tooth structure. Since a tooth cannot regenerate tissue to heal like other mineralized structures, restorations are necessary when it develops dental caries or has been cracked or chipped. For instance, a broken bone can heal over time, but a tooth cannot.

Once a tooth is damaged and remains unprotected, its condition worsens. As more of the tooth deteriorates, its innermost and more sensitive structures, such as the root, will become exposed to oral debris and bacteria.

When the root is exposed to bacteria, root canal therapy can become necessary to stop the advancement of the infection and, ultimately, the development of a painful infection that starts at the root of a tooth (an abscess). If a tooth is beyond repair with restorations or endodontics (root canal treatment), it must be extracted, and tooth replacement options will become necessary.

If a damaged or diseased tooth is treated in time, a dental crown or bridge can easily prevent the development of an infected root canal or an abscess. If it has to be extracted, the crown or bridge can replace the entire tooth.

Dental Crowns

A crown is essentially a tooth-shaped cap permanently placed on an implant or remaining natural tooth structure to protect what is left of a tooth or replace a missing tooth, preventing further damage and preserving the shape, function, and integrity of the smile.

Dental crowns are more extensive restorations than simple fillings. Unlike a filling, which “fills in” a tiny cavity cleaned of decay, a dental crown covers an entire tooth above the gum line. In instances of a missing tooth, the dental crown is connected to an abutment attached to a dental implant, a tiny titanium screw inserted in the jaw bone to mimic a natural tooth root.

Not only do crowns have restorative applications, they can also be used to enhance the aesthetics of a smile. For instance, patients with misshapen or badly damaged teeth can receive multiple crowns to create a more visually pleasing smile.

Crowns can be used for:

• Protecting a restored tooth after a root canal
• Correcting misshapen teeth
• Repairing teeth with cavities or decay that are too large for a filling
• Correcting severely stained or discolored teeth
• Restoring fractured, damaged, or severely decayed teeth
• Replacing a missing tooth

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is made up of multiple crowns, and instead of covering a tooth, the dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. A dental bridge can replace up to three or four teeth if consecutive teeth are missing. The crowns cemented together in a dental bridge will be connected to natural teeth on each side and will fill in the missing gaps of a smile so that you can eat comfortably and smile confidently.

While bridges can be implant-supported—connected to tiny titanium screws implanted in the jaw—other bridges can be a good alternative to implants or dentures if the existing jaw and/or gums can’t support implants if dentures are too uncomfortable or unstable. Other options for bridges include:

Maryland bridges require two natural teeth adjacent to either side of the gap. The crowns are cemented to the back of these natural teeth using either metal or porcelain frames.

Cantilever bridges, which only require one natural tooth on one side of the gap to secure a crown, and the bridge

What types of materials are used for crowns and bridges?

Patients also have options for what materials are used to fabricate their crowns or bridges. Common materials include ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, porcelain, composite resin, and metal alloys. Metals are ideal for budget-conscious patients or replacing teeth at the back of the mouth, while porcelain is ideal for those who want a natural dental restoration. Porcelain fused to metal is also popular, where porcelain serves as a natural-looking complement to your smile without sacrificing the durability of metal.

Custom Dental Crowns and Bridges in Oklahoma at Dental Depot

At Dental Depot, we’re committed to helping all Oklahomans receive the comprehensive, quality dental care they need at a commonsense price. Millions of adults in Oklahoma experience tooth decay, damage, or the loss of one or more teeth every year, so dental restorations like crowns and bridges become critically important to helping preserve their oral and overall health. With multiple locations throughout Norman, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City, convenient Saturday or evening appointments at many offices, and accepted payment options that include SoonerCare, CareCredit, and most major dental insurance plans, Dental Depot strives to make getting professional dental services you deserve easy and affordable.

Don’t spend another day hiding your smile or living in pain from a broken, damaged, or decayed tooth. Call your nearest Dental Depot location today and schedule an appointment to discuss restorative dental options like crowns or bridges.