Fillings, Crowns & Bridges

What Is a Dental Filling?

Dental fillings restore decayed teeth and prevent further damage. When you have a cavity, your dentist will remove the decay and fill the tooth with a filling material to restore the tooth. If you don’t have the cavity treated, it will grow larger and you may need more extensive work.

What Are Dental Caps and Dental Bridges Used For?

A tooth cap or crown is a tooth-like covering that fits over a tooth which your dentist will reduce to accommodate the crown. Crowns add strength to weakened teeth and cover cosmetic concerns, such as discolored or misshapen teeth. Bridges use an artificial tooth to fill in the gap left by a missing tooth. There is a crown on each end of the bridge to add strength to the teeth which will support the crown.

Where Can I Find a Dentist for a Crown, Bridge, or Filling?

Our general dentists are happy to help you with fillings, crowns, bridges, or any preventative or restorative other dental needs. Call our office to schedule an exam.

What Does a Crown, Bridge or Tooth Filling Cost?

Your fee for your tooth filling is calculated using the filling material you select. Crowns and bridges are custom-made, fixed restorations, so your dental crown cost and your dental bridge cost will vary according to the material you select and in the case of a bridge, how many teeth you need to replace. Please call our office to schedule an appointment. One of our dentists can perform an exam to assess your needs and provide you with an estimate of your total cost. If you have dental insurance coverage, bring your information with you so we can help you determine your out-of-pocket expenses.

What Is the Most Popular Tooth Filling Material?

Composite resin is the most popular tooth filling material with adults who don’t want others to see they have cavities. Silver-colored amalgam fillings, which are a mix of metals, are still available because they last a long time and are strong, so they can fill a large cavity. Porcelain is the most lifelike filling material. It takes two visits to get a porcelain filling and they are more expensive than composite resin or amalgam fillings.

What Type of Crown Is Best for a Front Tooth?

All porcelain crowns are exceptionally lifelike; they are the ideal choice for front teeth. If cosmetics are your primary concern for a front tooth crown, choose an all porcelain crown. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are almost as strong as all metal crowns, but not quite as translucent as all porcelain crowns. Gold alloy crowns are the strongest crown, but most patients only consider them for molars. Call our office if you need a crown and one of our dentists can help you make the best choice in your unique situation.

Which Type of Tooth Bridge Is Best for Me?

Only your dentist can answer this question after an examination and a consultation to determine your wishes. Traditional bridges with healthy abutment teeth on either side of the bridge are the most common type of bridge. There is a cantilever bridge, which can replace one missing tooth in the front of the mouth. A cantilever bridge only needs one tooth to support it. Increasingly, patients are opting for implant-supported bridges, which don’t rely on adjacent teeth for support and which can replace more teeth than traditional bridges.

How Much Does It Hurt to Get a Tooth Crown?

Few dental procedures hurt any more thanks to advances in modern anesthetics. When you arrive for your first appointment, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic. While your tooth is getting numb, your dentist will make a mold for the dental lab to use to fabricate a lifelike crown. Next, your dentist will shape the tooth so the crown can fit over it. Your dentist will place a temporary crown on your tooth, which he or she will remove on your subsequent visit. Your dentist permanently cements your custom crown on your tooth and you’re finished.

How Much Does It Hurt to Get a Tooth Bridge?

You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the two visit procedure to get a dental bridge. The procedure is very similar to getting a crown as bridges have crowns on the end and the artificial teeth just rest on your gum. The first visit includes the impression for the dental lab and shaping the teeth for crowns. You’ll have a local anesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel pain. You’ll have a temporary bridge to wear until your second visit, when you’ll receive your permanent bridge.