Whether due to damage, decay or to provide cosmetic enhancement, sometimes a tooth needs to be replaced. When a replacement tooth is needed the dentists at our North Andover practice will help you decide on the right solution for your needs.Â
Dental crowns and dental bridges are two options for restoring function when one or more replacement teeth are needed.
“Dr. Lin is a talented dentist who does amazing (and painless!) dental work. This knowledge and expertise has made my experience with him very reassuring that I am in the right hands. The crown I had done had a perfect fit from the start. I highly recommend him especially if you need a bit more than just a filling. He does a beautiful job.” ~ Joelle

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What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a custom-made replacement tooth that can be attached to a dental implant or to what remains of a natural tooth after decay and infection have been removed. Unlike dental bridges, crowns are fitted independently from surrounding teeth. Once the crown is in place, the tooth’s full function is restored.Â
Dental crowns allow us to save a tooth that has been severely damaged or is suffering from decay beyond what a filling can repair. Crowns are also commonly used in conjunction with a root canal, as the remaining tooth will be fragile and require protection.Â
Crowns can even address cosmetic issues such as crooked teeth or teeth with a large gap between them. And porcelain crowns look and feel just like your natural teeth.
At Future of Dentistry’s North Andover office, we custom make each porcelain crown to match the natural look and feel of the tooth it’s replacing.Â
Your dental crown can be cared for the same way as your other teeth, with regular bruising and flossing.
Dental Crown Procedure
Dental crowns can be installed over one or two visits to our North Andover office.Â
For the first step, we take a mold of the tooth that’s being replaced, along with the surrounding teeth. This allows us to ensure the crown will be a good fit and a good visual match.Â
The dental crown will match the size and shape of the tooth it’s replacing, and our custom-made porcelain crowns allow us to custom match the color to your other teeth. The result is a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
What is a Dental Bridge?
Another way to address a missing tooth, a dental bridge is a replacement tooth held in place with attachments to the neighboring teeth. These attachments may be either dental crowns or implants and they secure the replacement tooth between them, hence bridging the gap.Â
A dental bridge solves the problem of a missing tooth by restoring functionality to your bite and by helping your other teeth maintain their position.
Dental Bridge Procedure
Before a dental bridge can be installed, the adjacent teeth must be evaluated as attachment points. Called “abutment teeth,” these neighboring teeth must be in good health to support attachments for the bridge. The abutment teeth may need to be filed down to make room for the crowns.Â
Once the abutment teeth have been prepared, we’ll take a mold of your teeth so we can construct a bridge that fits naturally and comfortably.Â
When multiple teeth need to be replaced, dental implants can also support a bridge. In these instances, two implants will support a replacement tooth between them.Â
Similar to the dental crown procedure, we may fit you with a temporary bridge while the permanent bridge is being crafted.