The Differences Between Bridges and Crowns
The ‘fixing’ of a smile is not just limited to ensuring all teeth are straight and white. It also includes ensuring overall dental hygiene, most of which is the work of cosmetic dentistry. The terms bridges and crowns are often used interchangeably, but they are far from the same thing. Both are frequently discussed to fix cracked, chipped, or missing teeth. Dental crowns and bridges are used in cosmetic procedures to repair the state of broken teeth and replace those that are missing.
So what is the difference between a bridge and a crown?
Dental Bridges: What Are They?
Dental bridges are false teeth used to replace missing teeth. They are usually made from porcelain to blend in with the rest of the teeth. The natural teeth on either side of the false teeth help anchor the false teeth in place.
Most dental bridge clinics recommend this treatment to people with missing teeth. This could be due to severe tooth decay, an injury, or gum disease resulting in teeth loss.
There are various types of dental bridges. Some of these are:
- Traditional fixed bridges
- Cantilever bridges
- Maryland bonded bridges
- Implanted support bridges
The most common among these types is the traditional fixed bridge. It includes two or more crowns to anchor onto the natural teeth on both the ends of a bridge. The artificial replacement teeth are in the middle to fill the empty space, and all the teeth in a bridge are connected. They are usually made of metal, ceramics, or porcelain fused to metal.
Dental bridges help restore the image of the mouth. For those that had daily activities like speaking and chewing affected, dental bridges can act as a remedy to that as well.
Dental Crowns: What Are They and How Are They Different From Dental Bridges?
Dental crown treatment is done for teeth that are damaged, not missing. A dental crown is simply a cover that is capped over a tooth. It is usually made of porcelain, ceramic, or zirconia.
For existing teeth that are cracked, dental crowns are used to hold them together in place to restore the cracked tooth. Additionally, they can easily replace worn-out or oversized fillings and fix existing dental implants to restore their look.
Dental crowns and bridges are used in cosmetic surgery to restore the health and image of teeth. The fundamental difference between them is that dental crowns are used as covers for existing teeth, while dental bridge service in Markham is done to fill in for missing teeth.
They also vary in terms of costs. Although the cost of both bridge and crown treatment is subject to several factors, such as the material used, bridges usually cost more than a crown as they normally contain more than two teeth.
Curious about dental bridge service? Visit our page here to read more! Book an appointment with our experienced dentists to determine what treatment is best for you!