Fillings, Crowns & Bridges

What Are Dental Fillings?

Filling cavities is a very common dental procedure. Your dentist will clean the dental decay from the cavity and then fill the hole with either a silver or white filling. You will usually have your choice of filling materials. Having a cavity filled is essential for keeping the decay from spreading.

What Are Crowns and Dental Bridge Work?

Crowns are restorations that look very similar to your natural teeth. If you have a worn-down, misshapen, broken or damaged tooth, our dentist can cover it with a tooth crown. The crown improves the tooth’s appearance and gives it strength. Crowns can also support a bridge. A bridge replaces a missing tooth with an artificial one. To distribute the chewing force, your dentist will have a custom bridge made with a crown on each end. The crowns go over the teeth on either side of the gap left by the missing tooth. Call our office to schedule an appointment if you’re interested in learning more.

Who Should I See for a Crown, Bridge or a Tooth Filling?

General dentists offer these services. If you don’t have a dentist, please call our office today and request an appointment. We welcome new patients and always strive to provide the highest quality care.

How Much Will a Filling, Crown or Dental Bridge Cost?

Your tooth filling cost primarily depends on the filling material; silver fillings are more affordable than white fillings. We base your dental crown cost on the crown material and how much tooth preparation the dentist has to do. The cost for a bridge is contingent on the bridge type and the materials used. Your dentist will explain your anticipated costs after finding out your preferences. If you have a dental insurance plan, we can estimate your out-of-pocket expenses.

Which Material Is Best for a Tooth Filling?

No one material is best for everyone. Your dentist will go over your options with you and you can decide based on your aesthetic concerns and your budget. Silver amalgam fillings, which are a mixture of silver and other metals, are an affordable choice. Composite resin is a tooth-colored material suitable for small or medium-size cavities. Porcelain and gold alloy fillings are more expensive options. Porcelain very closely resembles tooth enamel and gold is very strong. Both options are made in a dental lab so gold and porcelain fillings take two visits to complete.

Are All Crowns for Teeth Porcelain?

No, there are different materials available. Porcelain crowns are ideal for front teeth because they have a translucent appearance just like natural teeth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are more durable and your dentist can use then anywhere in your mouth. Gold alloy crowns are very strong and are perfect for molars if you have a strong bite. Call us to schedule an appointment. Your dentist will go over the possibilities with you and help you select the crown material that is best for you.

What Are the Different Kinds of Dental Bridges?

A conventional bridge, which has a crown placed over the teeth on each end of it to provide support, with one or two artificial teeth in between (called pontics). If you only have one tooth to support the bridge, your dentist may suggest a cantilever bridge if you are missing a tooth in the front of your mouth. There are also implant-supported bridges.

Is Getting a Tooth Crown Painful?

Crowns are dental caps; they go over your tooth, so your dentist will have to reduce your tooth slightly. You’ll have a local anesthetic during the procedure so you won’t feel any pain. Your dentist will also make an impression of your teeth so the dental lab can fabricate a natural-looking custom crown. You’ll be given a temporary crown to protect the tooth. When your permanent crown is ready, your dentist will place it after removing the temporary crown.

Is Getting a Tooth Bridge Painful?

During your initial visit, your dentist will prepare the teeth on both sides of the gap created by a missing tooth. He or she will administer a local anesthetic so you won’t feel any pain. The crowns on either end of the bridge will fit over these teeth. In the middle of the bridge, there is an artificial tooth called a pontic. Next, your dentist makes impressions of your teeth so the dental lab can fabricate your bridge. While you wait for your permanent bridge, your dentist will supply you with a temporary appliance. On your final visit, your dentist will remove the temporary bridge and place the new one after checking the fit, giving you a permanent replacement for the missing tooth.