Crowns & Bridges Specialist

Vista Family Dental Care

Stacy Kirner Felix, DMD

Dentist serving Vista, Tri-City, Ocean Hills, CA and the surrounding areas

Weak or missing teeth not only detract from your smile, they can also pose serious oral health risks. At Vista Family Dental Care in Vista, California, Dr. Stacy Felix regularly provides crowns and bridges, custom-made dental appliances that can restore damaged teeth or replace missing teeth. With Dr. Felix’s help, you can safely and effectively address flaws or gaps in your smile and boost your self-confidence. Call the office or schedule a consultation online today to find out more about how your smile can benefit from crowns and bridges.

760-290-4213

Crowns & Bridges

What are dental crowns and bridges?

Dental crowns and tooth bridges are fixed dental appliances that only a dentist can remove, unlike more easily removable prosthetics like dentures.

Crowns are caps, usually made out of ceramic or porcelain, placed on damaged or weakened teeth. They help restore the function, appearance, color, or shape of natural teeth. In many cases, they also protect teeth from sustaining further damage. Dr. Felix uses crowns for a variety of purposes, including:

Protecting teeth that underwent a root canal
Replacing a large filling if there isn’t enough tooth left
Restoring a fractured tooth
Covering discolored teeth
Covering misshapen teeth

Tooth bridges are fixed prosthetics that fill gaps in your smile. They’re most commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth and are either bonded to surrounding teeth or supported by implants.

How do dental crowns work?

Dental crowns are made using impressions of your teeth Dr. Felix takes at her office. The impressions are sent to a dental lab where your crown is custom-made to fit your teeth.

At a later appointment, Dr. Felix fits your damaged tooth with your new crown and it’s cemented on your tooth.

How do dental bridges work?

Like crowns, tooth bridges are also custom-made in a dental lab using impressions of your mouth. Bridges are specially made to match the appearance and function of your natural teeth so that you reap the benefits of an attractive smile.

If you have a strong, healthy jawbone that can support dental implants, Dr. Felix may recommend implant-supported bridges. Otherwise, Dr. Felix bonds your new bridges to surrounding teeth in a simple, in-office procedure.

How long do dental crowns and bridges last?

Generally, crowns and bridges can last you a lifetime. However, to ensure their longevity, it’s important that you maintain good oral hygiene habits. Your bridge can become loose of even fall out if the teeth or bone supporting it get damaged by the effects of poor oral health.

Keep your gums and teeth healthy by brushing and flossing daily. Keep your regular appointments with Dr. Felix for routine checkups and professional cleanings. Also, try to avoid chewing hard items such as ice or hard candies to prevent damage to your new crown or bridge.

To find out if a crown or tooth bridges are right for you, call or schedule an in-office consultation online today.

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