Bluffton Dental Bridges & Crowns

how are

Bridges and Crowns placed?

Dental bridges and crowns can usually be placed at Buckwalter Dental Care in as little as two appointments, though this will vary depending on the patient.

After Dr. Joel Darrah has determined that a dental bridge is right for you, you’ll come in for your initial appointment. During this time, Dr. Darrah will prepare your “abutment teeth” – the two teeth adjacent to your missing tooth.

These teeth will have enamel removed to provide a stable surface for the application of dental crowns. The procedure is minimally invasive and requires only a local anesthetic. After this process is complete, Dr. Darrah will take impressions and images of your teeth.

These images and impressions are sent to a lab. There, the dental crowns, artificial tooth, and bridge structure will be manufactured. This typically takes 1-2 weeks. Dr. Darrah will place a temporary dental bridge to protect your teeth and gums until your next appointment.

When Buckwalter Dental Care receives the completed dental bridge, you will come in for your second appointment. The fit, finish, and quality of your bridge will be checked and adjusted to ensure a perfect fit. Then, the dental crowns are bonded permanently into place with dental cement, and the procedure is complete.

the benefits of

Bridges and Crowns

Wondering why you should choose bridges and crowns instead of another treatment, such as a dental implant or dentures? Here are a few of the benefits of bridges and crowns:

Affordable – Dental bridges are usually quite affordable, compared to more expensive procedures like dental implants. In addition, most dental plans cover dental bridges and crowns, but will not cover the cost of a dental implant.

Non-invasive – Dental implants require an invasive surgical procedure. Bridges and crowns, however, require only the removal of surface enamel, so they are much less invasive. If you don’t like the idea of dental surgery, bridges and crowns may be a better alternative for you.

Long-lasting – With proper care, a dental bridge can easily last 15+ years. Compared to dentures, which must often be replaced every 3-5 years, dental bridges are a much better long-term investment.

Faster treatment – Dental implants usually take 3-6 months or longer to be placed, because the jaw and gum must heal after surgery. Bridges and crowns can usually be placed in just a few weeks.

Why Would

I Need A Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are typically used to restore damaged teeth. If your tooth has a very deep cavity, it’s infected, or it’s been broken or cracked by dental trauma, a crown is the best option for repairing it. Compared to other treatments like fillings, crowns are more effective at protecting and restoring severely-damaged teeth. That’s because they cover up and protect all of your remaining natural tooth structure.
More rarely, crowns are used for cosmetic purposes. For example, a crown may be recommended to cover up a tooth if a cosmetic treatment like a veneer, dental bonding, or teeth whitening is not appropriate. 

How Do I Care

For Dental Crowns & Bridges?

You can treat a dental crown just like a natural tooth. Make sure to brush at least twice a day for two minutes, floss once per day, and see Dr. Darrah every six months for a teeth cleaning and oral exam. That’s it!
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For the most part, bridges are the same. You can brush and floss normally. However, you should also use an interdental brush to clean between the bridge and your gums. These tiny brushes help clean away food particles and debris that are hard to remove with brushing alone, and can cause irritation or even infections of the gum tissue.

Are There Alternatives

To A Dental Crown Or Bridge?

Generally, there are no alternatives to a dental crown if one is recommended by Dr. Darrah. He’s a conservative dentist, so he will only recommend a crown over an alternative like a filling if he really believes that it’s necessary. 
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The only other alternative is to extract the damaged tooth, which is obviously a worse choice if it’s at all possible to save the tooth with a crown. Crowns are faster, simpler, cheaper, and much less invasive compared to pulling and replacing a tooth.
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For dental bridges, though, you’ve got more options. A partial denture may be a good choice if you’re on a budget. Partial dentures can replace one or more teeth, and they snap onto your remaining healthy teeth. They're usually less expensive than bridges.
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Dental implants are another option. They're more expensive than bridges, and are usually not covered by insurance. But unlike bridges, they don’t require any of your healthy teeth to be trimmed. They also last longer, up to 30+ years with proper care, and look and feel more natural than a dental bridge. When you come to your consultation at Buckwalter Dental Care, Dr. Darrah will explain all of these options in more detail, and help you decide what’s right for you.

Are Crowns And Bridges

Covered By Dental Insurance?

Yes. When medically necessary, both crowns and bridges are covered by dental insurance. Most plans cover 80% of the cost of crowns, and 50% of the cost of bridges, up to applicable yearly limits.
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However, it’s always a good idea to double-check your coverage before you commit to any dental procedure. If you’re not sure what your insurance policy will cover, we recommend consulting your policy information, or contacting your insurance provider directly. This is the best way to confirm your coverage.

Got missing teeth in bluffton?

Come to Buckwalter Dental Care today!

If you have missing teeth, it’s important that you replace them as soon as possible. If you don’t seek treatment, you could suffer from a wide variety of oral health issues. So come to Buckwalter Dental Care today to learn more about bridges and crown fittings. Dr. Joel Darrah will examine your mouth and provide you with all of the information you need to get the treatment for missing teeth. Contact us today by phone at (843) 815-3232, or visit our Bluffton office at 31 Innovation Drive Unit 2, Bluffton, SC 29910. We look forward to seeing you!