2.2% of people between the ages of 20 and 64 don't have any teeth. Your teeth are important for a variety of reasons. You need them to chew food, pronounce words, and of course, they make you feel confident about your smile.

When you are missing one or more teeth, or even if your teeth are just damaged, you could encounter all sorts of dental problems. That's where dental crowns and bridges come in. Both of these dental options from your dentist in Macedonia, OH, are good options, but one may be better than the other for your individual dental needs. 

What are crowns and bridges anyway, and what do they do? Keep reading and learn more about these two options below.

What You Need To Know About Dental Crowns

Dental crowns can solve a variety of problems. A dental crown is nothing more than a protective cap that is designed to go over a damaged tooth. For example, if your real tooth is severely chipped or has advanced tooth decay, it will likely cause you a lot of pain because the nerves within the tooth may be exposed or almost exposed. 

This will not only cause pain but also discomfort when you chew food, speak, or expose your teeth to hot or cold substances. But by simply adding a dental crown to that damaged tooth, you can solve this discomfort. This is because the dental crown will completely envelop your damaged tooth so that the nerves won't be exposed anymore. 

The great thing about a dental crown is that it looks just like a real tooth. This is because a dental cap has to be specifically crafted to fit your damaged tooth. For that reason, it may take a few weeks to get your crown. 

The Details

Even so, once you get it, it will match the color of the rest of your teeth, and it will also match the shape of your teeth. That way, no one will be able to even tell that you have a crown instead of a real tooth. Keep in mind that it is necessary to have a tooth present in order to get a dental crown. 

This is because the crown requires a tooth to anchor it in place. If you are missing a tooth, a crown won't be a good option as a replacement tooth. Crowns are known to be very durable, and they can be made out of a variety of materials.

Porcelain teeth are by far the most popular option. Porcelain crowns are one of the most realistic options because porcelain looks a lot like tooth enamel. Besides that, porcelain is very strong and will likely last you a decade, if not longer. 

The main downside is that porcelain is very expensive. A good alternative is composite resin which looks very similar and is still quite durable (although not as durable as porcelain), and it is much more affordable. Once you get a dental crown, you will not only get back your dental function but also the confidence of your smile.

What You Need To Know About Dental Bridges

While dental bridges have some similarities to dental crowns, they are mostly quite different. A dental bridge is designed to replace several teeth at once. This is different than a dental crown which doesn't aim to replace any teeth but instead protects the teeth that are still in the mouth. 

Once you lose a tooth, you won't be able to use a dental crown because there will be nothing for the crown to anchor onto. Bridges, on the other hand, are quite different. A dental bridge gets its name due to the fact that it "bridges" the space created by your missing teeth. 

A dental bridge is actually made up of dental crowns, but not the same individual crowns discussed before. The crowns that make up a dental bridge do not need a tooth to cover. However, they still need teeth (or another type of anchor) to keep themselves steady inside the mouth. 

All about Dental Bridges

For example, a bridge may have one hook on one side or a hook on both sides to attach to one or two of your real teeth. This would anchor the bridge in place so that it could fill the gap created by your missing teeth. Your remaining real teeth would keep the bridge in place. 

But what if you don't have any teeth on one side of your mouth? In that case, you may have to get a dental implant. This is when the dentist will drill a hole in your jawbone, implant a metal post, and then top that metal post with a dental crown that will look and function just like a real tooth.

This implant would make as good of an anchor as a real tooth for keeping a bridge in place. A bridge will look just like your real teeth and no one will even be able to tell that you have a bridge. A bridge can also help you chew food better and pronounce certain words. 

This is not to mention that you will feel much more confident about your teeth. 

The Importance of Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and bridges are both very useful dental devices that can do a lot of good. Crowns are individual caps that are designed to go over a tooth to cover and protect them from further damage.

Bridges, on the other hand, are designed to replace several missing teeth at once. 

To learn more about dental work in Macedonia, OH, check out the services we have to offer here.