Dental crowns and bridges in Staten Island can restore damaged, weakened, or missing teeth while improving both function and appearance. At Ideal Smiles Dental, Dr. Lawrence Shtarkman and Dr. Daniel Kluchman provide restorative dental treatment designed around each patient’s oral health, bite, existing teeth, and individual treatment needs.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a custom restoration that covers the visible portion of a damaged or weakened tooth. A crown can restore the tooth’s shape, strength, appearance, and ability to function during biting and chewing.
Dental crowns may be recommended for several reasons:
- Protecting a tooth weakened by extensive decay
- Restoring a cracked, fractured, or significantly worn tooth
- Protecting certain teeth following root canal treatment
- Restoring a tooth with a very large filling and limited remaining tooth structure
- Improving the shape or appearance of a damaged or severely discolored tooth
- Completing a dental implant restoration
The American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy guide to dental crowns provides additional information about how crowns are used to strengthen and restore teeth.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a fixed restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth. Traditional bridges use neighboring teeth for support while an artificial replacement tooth, known as a pontic, fills the space created by the missing tooth.
Replacing a missing tooth can provide several benefits:
- Restore chewing function
- Improve the appearance of the smile
- Help maintain appropriate spacing between teeth
- Reduce unwanted movement of neighboring teeth into an empty space
- Restore support in areas where teeth have been lost
Unlike removable dentures, a fixed dental bridge remains in the mouth and is removed only by a dental professional. The American Dental Association’s guide to dental bridges provides additional patient information about this type of tooth replacement.
Dental Crowns After Root Canal Treatment
A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment may sometimes require a crown, particularly when substantial tooth structure has been lost or the tooth is at increased risk of fracture.
The crown protects and restores the remaining tooth structure so the treated tooth can continue functioning. Learn more about root canal treatment in Staten Island.
Crowns for Broken or Damaged Teeth
A tooth can become structurally weakened by decay, a large existing filling, fracture, trauma, or wear. When there is not enough healthy tooth structure for a filling or bonding to provide a predictable restoration, a crown may be considered.
The damaged portion of the tooth is prepared and the crown covers the remaining tooth structure. The appropriate restoration depends on how much healthy tooth remains, the location of the damage, bite forces, and other clinical factors.
Dental Bridges for Missing Teeth
A bridge is one option for replacing missing teeth, but it is not the only option. Depending on the patient’s oral health and the number and location of missing teeth, alternatives may include dental implants or full or partial dentures.
Each approach has different advantages and treatment considerations. An examination can determine which tooth-replacement options are appropriate based on the health of the remaining teeth, gums, jawbone, bite, and the patient’s individual preferences.
What Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Made From?
Crowns and bridges can be fabricated from several dental materials. Depending on the location of the restoration and the patient’s needs, materials may include ceramic, porcelain-based materials, zirconia, metal alloys, or combinations of materials.
The choice of material can depend on:
- Location of the tooth
- Amount of remaining natural tooth structure
- Bite and chewing forces
- Appearance of surrounding teeth
- Patient preferences
- Other restorations already present in the mouth
For teeth that are visible when smiling, particular attention can be given to the shade, shape, and proportions of the restoration so that it blends naturally with surrounding teeth.
The Dental Crown and Bridge Treatment Process
The exact treatment process depends on the type of restoration and the individual tooth. Traditional crown and bridge treatment commonly involves preparing the supporting tooth or teeth, taking an impression or digital scan, and creating a custom restoration.
A temporary restoration may be used while the final crown or bridge is being fabricated. When the final restoration is ready, the dentist evaluates its fit, bite, contacts, and appearance before securing it in place.
The number of appointments and exact treatment sequence can vary according to the restoration, materials, technology being used, and the individual patient’s needs.
How Long Do Crowns and Bridges Last?
There is no single lifespan for a dental crown or bridge. Longevity depends on factors such as oral hygiene, bite forces, tooth grinding or clenching, the condition of the supporting teeth, diet, and regular professional dental care.
Good home care and routine dental examinations allow the dentist to monitor the restoration as well as the teeth and gums supporting it.
Caring for Dental Crowns and Bridges
Although crowns and bridges cannot develop cavities themselves, the natural teeth supporting them can still develop decay and gum disease. Maintaining those teeth is important for the long-term success of the restoration.
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth every day
- Clean carefully beneath and around fixed bridges
- Avoid routinely chewing extremely hard objects such as ice
- Maintain regular dental examinations and professional cleanings
- Tell your dentist if a restoration feels loose or your bite suddenly feels different
Crowns and Bridges as Part of Full Mouth Rehabilitation
For patients with multiple damaged, worn, or missing teeth, crowns and bridges may be incorporated into a more comprehensive restorative treatment plan. Depending on the patient’s needs, treatment might also involve dental implants, dentures, periodontal treatment, root canal treatment, or other restorative procedures.
Learn more about full mouth rehabilitation in Staten Island.
Restoring Function and Appearance
Restorative and cosmetic dentistry frequently overlap. A crown or bridge must function properly, but the appearance of the restoration is also important, particularly in visible areas of the smile.
Patients interested in making additional aesthetic changes can also learn about cosmetic dentistry in Staten Island, including veneers, bonding, Invisalign, professional whitening, and other treatment options.
Dental Crowns and Bridges in Staten Island, NY
Dental crowns and bridges in Staten Island can restore teeth that are damaged, weakened, or missing while helping patients regain comfortable dental function and a natural-looking smile. The appropriate restoration depends on the condition of the tooth, surrounding teeth and gums, bite, and individual treatment goals. Dr. Lawrence Shtarkman and Dr. Daniel Kluchman at Ideal Smiles Dental can evaluate your teeth and determine whether a crown, bridge, dental implant, or another restorative option is appropriate for your needs.
Contact Information
Ideal Smiles Dental
2955 Veterans Rd. W, Suite 2G
Staten Island, NY 10309
Phone: 718-535-1196
Email: idealsmilesdental@gmail.com