Enjoy a Healthy, Beautiful Smile with High-quality Crowns and Bridges
Patients with missing or damaged teeth can regain their oral aesthetics and function with crowns and bridges in Ames and Perry, Iowa. Swanson Family Dental is renowned for high-quality restorations. So, if you need to rebuild your smile with crowns and bridges, you can trust Drs. Rob Swanson, Jessica Swanson, Lona Kouri, and Taylor Steffans for expert care. Schedule an appointment today and regain your healthy, functional smile.
What are dental crowns?
A dental crown is an artificial cap fitted over a tooth to reinstate its structural support. Dental crowns repair damage where a tooth filling is deemed insufficient. The following are the main reasons your dentist may recommend a dental crown.
- To reinforce a traditional bridge
- To complete a dental implant
- To strengthen a structurally weakened tooth after damage or decay
- To fortify a tooth after a root canal
- To enhance a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
- To replace a failing onlay or filling
Our dental crowns are created from high-quality materials with excellent precision to provide a comfortable fit and natural appearance. Once your dental crown is in place, it feels and functions like natural teeth.
What are dental bridges?
We use a dental bridge to replace a few missing teeth in a row. A traditional bridge consists of custom-made artificial teeth anchored in place by healthy teeth (abutments) on both sides of the gap. The dentist reinforces the support teeth with crowns to ensure your dental bridge doesn’t move or fall out when eating or talking.
Like crowns, we fabricate your dental bridges with tooth-like materials. Once fitted, your bridge looks like an extension of the remaining teeth—no one will notice they are replacement teeth!
How are dental bridges and crowns placed?
Restoring your smile with crown bridges requires 2-3 dental appointments. The procedure starts with a consultation with our dentist. We’ll examine your gap, remaining teeth, and overall oral health to determine your suitability for bridgework. If deemed suitable, your procedure involves the following steps.
- Tooth preparation: The dentist will prepare the support teeth by removing some enamel to create space for a crown. Often, this is done after numbing your gums with local anesthetics for a comfortable dental experience.
- Impressions: Do you wonder how your bridge will fit in your mouth without feeling unnatural? It begins by taking digital impressions of your teeth. This ensures our dental lab fabricates your bridge and crowns to match the exact specifications of your dentition.
- Temporary restorations: Your crowns and bridge will be ready in 2-3 weeks. Until then, we’ll place temporary crowns to shield your prepped teeth from injuries, infections, and extreme temperatures.
Placement: Once we receive your crowns and bridge, you’ll return to our office for placement. First, the dentist will try the crown’s fit to ensure it looks and feels right. If so, we’ll bond it to your tooth with dental cement and then attach your dental bridge. We’ll make a few adjustments to ensure your bridge supports optimal bite alignment. It will take a few days to get used to your bridges. However, your new teeth will feel natural after the adjustment period, providing seamless aesthetics and functionality.
Looking for dental bridges and crowns near Ames?
Ready to restore your smile with dental bridges and crowns? Trust Swanson Family Dental for exceptional care tailored to your needs. Visit any of our offices in Ames (515) 233-2174 or Perry (515) 465-5170 and regain a fully functional, confident smile today!
