Dental Crowns & Bridges in Grand Rapids, MI
Patients with a damaged tooth may consider a crown or a bridge to solve their dental problems. Whereas a patient with multiple missing teeth in a row might be a good candidate for a dental bridge.
We want all our patients to be able to smile with confidence and to be able to live their lives to the fullest, and a functional set of teeth is critical to that.
Crowns and bridges can return the functionality to that part of the mouth because patients can resume using the crowned tooth or bridge for everyday tasks like eating and drinking. They help rebuild your smile by filling in the missing gaps.
What Are Dental Crowns in Grand Rapids, MI?
A dental crown is a protective piece of material that mimics the natural appearance of the tooth, allowing dentists to cap off a damaged tooth and protect it from further damage and infection while allowing the patient to continue to use the crown like they would like a natural tooth.
Crowns are typically used when a filling is no longer enough to support and save the tooth because the damage is too significant. A crown might also be used to protect a root canal tooth and improve longevity.
After Dr. Robson removes any damage to the tooth, such as a cavity, he will clean and prepare the tooth for the crown. Then the crown will be placed over the remaining tooth to absorb shock and protect the softer inner layers of the tooth from trauma and exposure to bacteria.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A bridge is a row of artificial teeth meant to perform a similar function as a crown. While a crown will help protect a damaged tooth, bridges can replace missing teeth. A bridge can replace one or two missing teeth. Using nearby teeth, Dr. Robson can place the bridge in the patient's mouth as a permanent fixture. A bridge is an economical way to close gaps in the mouth where teeth are missing.
Other options like dental implants are available as an alternative to a bridge, but the procedure is more invasive with a longer recovery time and tends to be more costly. However, more teeth can be replaced with a single dental restoration, and dental implants help maintain healthy bone structure.
Determining the right course of action for your dental care will require you to book an appointment with Dr. Robson for an examination. Together, you can discuss your dental goals and create a treatment plan for your oral health.
Discover Expert Crown and Bridge Dentistry
Looking for a local crown and bridge expert near you? Look no further than Dr. Robson and his team at Robson Family Dental. They proudly serve patients of all ages and nearly all dental needs. We serve the greater East Grand Rapids, MI area, including Ada, Kentwood, Forest Hill, and Cascade.
Contact us today if you have more questions about crowns or bridges or would like to schedule a time to meet with Dr. Robson to discuss a treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental crowns and bridges are tooth restoration and replacement options, but they work together. A dental crown resembles the visible portion of your tooth but is hollow and made from a durable material like porcelain ceramic. Your dentist in Grand Rapids, MI, uses a tooth crown to finish root canal therapy or cap a seriously damaged tooth. But to function, sufficient tooth structure must be left to serve as your crown’s foundation.
Dental Bridge for Tooth Replacement
A dental bridge consists of an underlying framework to replace one or two missing teeth in a row where your natural teeth on either side are healthy enough to support it. This teeth replacement appliance incorporates dental crowns in two ways: as replacements for the missing teeth and to support the anchor teeth on either side if they need extra security.
Dental Crowns Grand Rapids, MI Last Many Years
Because dental crowns and bridges utilize high-quality restorations, usually composed of lab-made porcelain, they are both durable and attractive. So if you follow a few maintenance tips, you can extend the average five to ten-year lifespan by many years.
- Maintain regular dentist check-ups
- Avoid chewing ice or other foods like hard candy
- Wear a mouthguard when playing sports or engaging in dangerous activities
- If you suffer from bruxism, i.e., teeth grinding while you sleep, wear a nightguard
- Don’t use your teeth to loosen knots or hold items
To learn more about teeth replacement options, the team at Robson Family Dental is accepting new patients. As a result, we can serve the dental needs of people in the East Grand Rapids, MI, area, including Ada, Kentwood, Forest Hill, and Cascade.
Dental crowns are an excellent option for restoring a tooth with extensive decay or a fracture beyond what a filling can repair. This restoration tends to last for around seven to twelve years with an excellent brushing and flossing routine and regular checkups with Dr. Robson.
Your implant dentist in Grand Rapids may also use a dental crown as a restoration for a single-tooth dental implant, as well as for these situations:
- A severely fractured tooth
- An oddly shaped tooth
- To strengthen a tooth after root canal treatment
- To replace an old, large filling that's broken down
Unless you're getting an implant, the process for completing a dental crown is straightforward and as follows:
- At the first appointment, Dr. Robson prepares your tooth for restoration and creates temporary versions for you to wear.
- We send impressions of your tooth to a dental lab that handcrafts your new crown over the next few weeks.
- When the final crown is ready, you return to Robson Family Dental to have your permanent crown placed.
- Now you're ready to eat and chew with your new tooth and share your smile with the world!
If you're looking for the best dentist in Grand Rapids, MI, to restore your smile, contact Robson Famly Dental at (616) 942-9595.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Bill Robson
Dr. Robson is a Grand Rapids, Michigan native. He graduated from East High School in 1982 and went on to get his Master of Science from the University of Michigan in 1988. In 1992 Dr. Robson completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery. For the next four years, he worked as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Michigan.
He started his private practice in 1997 and has been working to improve his patients' smiles since. Dr. Robson has placed a lot of emphasis on continuing education ...