Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental Crowns and Bridges in Billings MT

patient with dental crowns and dental bridges in Billings MTTeeth are sometimes in need of repairs beyond a standard cavity filling. When they are damaged or missing, the placement of dental crowns and bridges are time-tested methods for restoring your mouth to complete health. Our dentist in Billings, MT, can use porcelain crowns and bridges to improve your smile and confidence!

Dental Crowns

The crown of your tooth is the visible part we can see when you smile. It is responsible for biting, aids in speaking, and protects your pulp—the softer, more sensitive insides of the tooth—with a hard outer layer of enamel.

In fact, the enamel is the hardest substance produced by the human body. It can endure a lot of wear and tear, but even enamel can fall victim to accident or decay. When this happens, we will create a custom-designed synthetic dental crown made of durable porcelain.

A dental crown, also known as a “tooth cap,” will cap your damaged tooth, allowing you to bite without pain. They are sealed, in order to protect the pulp, and can be color-matched to look completely indistinguishable from the rest of your teeth.

Dr. Johnson's patient before and after photos
Dr. Johnson's patient before and after photos at The Billings Dentist

When Do I Need a Dental Crown?

Most minor instances of decay can be repaired with a standard cavity filling. A little cleaning, followed by a small patch, completely restores the tooth’s health.

Sometimes, however, the decay of a cavity is much more widespread. If too much damaged material has to be removed, or too much of the tooth’s surface has to be opened in order to access the damage, a crown may be needed, instead of a filling.

Porcelain crowns also help to repair cracks and chips which have compromised a tooth’s enamel. Whether because of a car collision, a sporting injury, or any other blunt trauma, dental accidents do happen. If the pulp inside of the tooth is no longer safe, due to this breakage, a synthetic crown can effectively step in to do the job.

Dental Bridge Restorations

porcelain crowns in Billings MTA dental bridge, on the other hand, works in a similar way to dental crowns, except that they fill gaps, rather than capping a damaged tooth.

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. It typically consists of a false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by two crowns that are placed over the adjacent teeth (called abutment teeth). The crowns and pontic are all fused together to form a single unit, and the bridge is cemented or otherwise attached to the natural teeth or dental implants in the mouth.

Each dental bridge is a series of two or more connected crowns. Those crowns are designed to fit into the spaces left by a missing tooth or teeth. With the bridge in place, that difficult gap no longer poses a problem.

If you are in Billings, Montana and are looking for a dental bridge, you can start by contacting Dr. Neal Johnson, DMD. Anyone with one or more missing teeth may be eligible for a custom-crafted dental bridge.

Call Us Today

Our office is equipped with 3D-scanning technology to assist in the creation of your custom porcelain crown or bridge. For any questions about crowns or bridges, don’t hesitate to call. We’re glad to discuss all of your options with you.

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