Your dentist may recommend a dental crown (aka cap). Crowns repair a tooth in the case of decay or fracture or to strengthen a tooth after having root canal treatment. Dental crowns are made from several different materials. Two great fully ceramic (tooth-colored) materials are Zirconia and Lithium Disilicate, which are known for their strength and high esthetics. Gold crowns are known for their longevity and can be great solutions on posterior teeth. Dr. David W. Irby and Dr. Adam C. Williams have years of experience restoring teeth with crowns.
We now offer same day crowns in Roanoke. Our state-of-the-art dental milling machine can create a dental crown from the highest quality materials. This saves you time and makes the crown appointment only a single visit. Ask us if you qualify for a same-day crown.
If you are missing a tooth or several teeth you may be a good candidate for a dental bridge. A bridge is similar to two crowns with a connecting tooth or ‘bridge’ to fill in gaps in your mouth. A dental lab technician fabricates the bridge and your dentist cements it in to place using permanent cement. This is an ideal solution when you are missing one to three teeth, but sometimes works in more extreme case such as the six-unit bridge picture below. Bridges are very natural looking restorations and can serve a patient well for many years. Survival of your bridge does require daily cleaning underneath with floss. An alternative to a bridge which is also fixed (not removable from the mouth) is a dental implant.
In some cases, years of wear from teeth grinding or acid reflux can cause the bite to change. One way to totally restore the original bite position is a full mouth rehabilitation using crowns. These cases are complex but may offer life changing results!
Yes, a bridge can be an esthetic and long lasting solution to a missing front tooth.
A front tooth bridge can last decades if properly cared for. Proper care involves regular brushing and flossing, flossing underneath the bridge tooth, routine professional dental cleanings, and avoiding a sugar-heavy diet.
Bridges are often used to replace 1-2 missing teeth. In cases where the bridge replaces greater than two missing teeth, your dentist may discuss decreased lifespan predictability.
A front tooth bridge may cost $2700-6500 depending on how many teeth are replaced.
