Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and bridges repair severe tooth damage so you can smile confidently. At Uptown Dental in Cedar Hill, Texas, general and restorative dentist Jeffrey Belz, DDS, uses custom crowns and bridges to transform smiles and encourage optimal oral health. Dr. Belz offers porcelain and porcelain “pasted on gold” crowns and bridges that look like your natural teeth. They’re tough, durable, and provide long-lasting results. Call Uptown Dental today to schedule a crowns and bridges consultation, or book your appointment online.

When are dental crowns and bridges necessary?

At Uptown Dental, Dr. Belz uses dental crowns and bridges to repair damaged, decaying, or missing permanent teeth. Though similar, crowns and bridges aren’t the same:

Crowns

A crown is a custom cap that Dr. Belz bonds on top of a damaged or severely decaying tooth. Dr. Belz offers porcelain crowns and “porcelain pasted on gold” crowns. These materials look like your natural tooth enamel and blend in with your smile.

Bridges

A dental bridge fills a gap in your smile where a permanent tooth used to be. Dental bridges have an artificial tooth (pontic) and two dental crowns or a metal framework. The artificial tooth fills the gap in your smile, and the crowns or framework hold the bridge in place.

Dr. Belz partners with area dental labs to ensure these custom restorations fit perfectly and last for years. 

How do I prepare to receive a dental crown or bridge?

Before getting a dental crown or bridge, Dr. Belz completes an oral exam and takes oral X-rays. You qualify for treatment if you have a severely damaged or decaying tooth or a missing permanent tooth.

Dr. Belz takes impressions of your tooth or the gap in your smile and sends them to a dental lab. The lab uses your impressions to create a custom dental restoration that looks natural and fits perfectly.

How are crowns and bridges applied?

After the dental lab finishes your custom crown or bridge, you return to Uptown Dental for a second time. 

If you’re getting a crown, Dr. Belz positions the crown and bonds it on top of your tooth with dental cement. After the cement dries, he polishes your teeth and checks your bite to ensure a perfect fit.

If you’re getting a bridge, Dr. Belz places the artificial tooth in your empty socket and bonds the crowns or metal framework to the abutment teeth on either side. After the dental cement dries, Dr. Belz checks your bite and polishes your teeth.

How long do crowns and bridges last?

Dr. Belz uses crowns and bridges made from porcelain or porcelain “pasted on gold.” These materials are incredibly tough and can last up to 20-30 years. 

Call Uptown Dental today to see if you can benefit from crowns and bridges, or book your appointment online.