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When visiting your dental office for a routine examination, your dentist may recommend a dental crown or bridge to restore the beauty and health of your smile. If you’re unfamiliar with these cosmetic dentistry treatments and their overall purpose, here’s some helpful information to review.

Understanding the Difference Between Dental Crowns & Bridges

Dental Crowns

dental-crown-guilford-ncA dental crown — also referred to as a dental cap — is a tool used by dentists to preserve your natural tooth or cover a dental implant. This cap — which can be composed of gold, metal alloys, porcelain, or ceramic — strengthens and protects a tooth that has been damaged or decayed. Once in place, a dental crown improves both the strength and overall appearance of the tooth it is covering. In some cases, a crown can be used instead of a filling if the overall structure of a tooth is too weak to sustain the force of chewing in the future.

Bridges

Dental bridges, on the other hand, are a restorative tool used to fill gaps left by missing teeth. Their primary purpose is to restore the visual appearance of your smile and prevent teeth from shifting due to the spaces left by a tooth or multiple teeth that have been pulled. Bridges — which are also composed of metal alloys, porcelain, ceramic, or gold — are essentially a false tooth that is anchored into place using the neighboring teeth to support or “bridge” the gap. Dental bridges vary from dental implants because they are not implanted into the jaw and, as such, are not considered a permanent solution.

 

Are you looking for an experienced dental office that’s known for using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to restore smiles? If so, Patrick M Pitts, DDS is the right dentist for you. As a leader in cosmetic dentistry, residents throughout Guilford and Randolph County, NC, can depend on this practice for a wide range of restorative services, from dental crowns and bridges to veneers. To schedule your first appointment, call today at (336) 431-0002. For more information on the treatments this clinic specializes in to ensure every patient enjoys a healthy, confident smile, visit their website.

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