Fillings, Crowns & Bridges

Fillings restore dental health, while crowns and bridges restore smiles. 

 

Is a Dental Filling Optional if I Have a Cavity?

No, cavities cannot heal themselves. If you do not have the decay removed from the hole and a tooth filling placed in the cavity, more bacteria will be trapped inside and you’ll end up with a large, painful cavity. The tooth filling cost is less if you have the cavity filled when it is small, rather than waiting until the cavity is so large that you need a root canal or even lose the tooth!  

 

What Are Crowns and Dental Bridges Used for?

A bridge will replace one or two adjacent missing teeth. A tooth bridge is a lower cost option to replace a missing tooth compared to an implant. A tooth crown hides a broken tooth by covering or capping it, which is why crowns are also called dental caps.

 

What Types of Bridges Are Used to Hide Missing Teeth?

A traditional bridge fills in the space left by a missing tooth with a prosthetic tooth, which attaches to crowns placed on the adjacent teeth. When only one adjacent tooth is available, our dentist will recommend a cantilever bridge. There are also implant-supported bridges, which are not suitable for everyone, but they do have distinct advantages, which our dentist will discuss with you.

 

How Do Dentists Attach Bridges?

Attaching a bridge is the same process as attaching a crown, since the bridge’s prosthetic tooth is attached to a crown on each side. An implant-supported bridge is different, and the process will depend on the integrity of your jawbone in the spot where the bridge goes.