Crowns and Bridges
At Sheldon Family Dental, Dr. Ali Ismail and Dr. Carla Ismail work in partnership with our patients to maintain their oral health, even in the event of a broken or missing tooth. As your Canton general dentists, we offer durable tooth-colored dental crowns and bridges to repair and replace teeth.
Dental Crowns for Cracked and Broken Teeth
If you have a broken or cracked tooth, it’s important to stabilize it as soon as possible. A fractured tooth is susceptible to further damage as you place force on it from chewing or grinding your teeth at night. Leaving a tooth untreated also makes it more prone to decay.
A dental crown—sometimes called a cap—covers the entire tooth to the gumline. Designed to absorb the force of chewing, a dental crown can keep teeth from breaking down even more and ultimately requiring extraction. The dental crown takes the place of the protective enamel covering natural teeth and is both durable and natural-looking.
Other Uses for Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are versatile restorations. Some of their additional uses include:
Protecting a root canal-treated tooth – Root canal treatment is a tooth-saving procedure, but often, the remaining tooth becomes brittle. A crown will provide your tooth with protection, prolonging its function for years or even decades.
Cosmetic dentistry – Dental crowns can change the shape, color, and height of a tooth, making them a popular choice to improve the appearance of your smile.
How Do I Care for a Dental Crown?
You need to treat your dental crown with the same common-sense caution as your natural teeth by avoiding habits such as chewing on ice or biting into anything too hard. Sticky, chewy foods can also dislodge a dental crown, so it’s best to avoid them.
If Dr. Ali or Dr. Carla has recommended a nightguard because you grind your teeth, be sure to wear it each night. Crowns can break down from teeth grinding.
You can, and should, brush and floss your teeth normally to maintain gum health and to prevent decay. While dental crowns themselves will not develop decay, the remaining tooth structure can.
Solutions for Missing Teeth
While dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement, some people want or need a non-surgical option to fill the space in their smiles left by a missing tooth. Dental bridges are still a popular choice for patients in our Canton, MI dental office, and both Dr. Ali and Dr. Carla take great care to ensure your bridge looks like a seamless part of your smile.
Dental bridges rely on two healthy adjacent teeth to anchor an artificial tooth in place. Our local dental lab technicians carefully match the color and shade of the teeth and work closely with our dentists to ensure a comfortable fit.
A dental bridge also acts as a placeholder, keeping your remaining teeth from naturally tipping toward the gap left by a missing tooth.
How Do I Care for a Dental Bridge?
Your dental bridge will require a bit of extra attention to protect the underlying gums. Small dental brushes and floss threaders will make it easier to remove food particles and debris from beneath and around the dental bridge. Avoid chewing hard, sticky, and super-crunchy foods that could damage your dental bridge.
We Welcome Your Call
Regular dental exams and cleanings are the best insurance for a healthy smile. If you have a broken or missing tooth and want a practical, long-lasting solution, contact Sheldon Family Dental to book an appointment. Our experienced dentists will help you find a solution that works best for your smile.
