Restore Damaged or Missing Teeth
Crowns & Bridges in Del Mar
If you have one or more missing or damaged teeth in Del Mar, Dr. Todd Pizzi is here to help. At Del Mar Dental Studio, we specialize in restorative dental care. We can restore both missing and damaged teeth using high-quality, lab-made crowns and bridges. Learn more below, or contact us now to schedule your consultation with Dr. Pizzi.
Understanding the basics
Dental Crowns & Bridges
Dental crowns are used to repair damaged teeth. Most commonly, they are made out of porcelain. A crown is built to look and feel just like your tooth, and is bonded in place after your natural tooth has been trimmed, covering it up all the way down to the gumline. This restores your smile, and prevents further damage to your tooth.
Bridges use two dental crowns that attach to two healthy “abutment” teeth next to one or more missing teeth. Between these crowns, one or more false teeth can be suspended to fill up the gaps where your missing teeth used to be. This restores your smile, and prevents common complications related to tooth loss, such as teeth shifting toward empty sockets.
What to expect
The Dental Crown Process
It takes two appointments over a period of several weeks to get a dental crown. First, you’ll come into Del Mar Dental Studio to have your tooth prepared for a crown. Dr. Pizzi will clean and numb your mouth, then trim away any decayed or damaged tooth material from your tooth. It will be trimmed into a stable platform to which the crown can be attached.
Then, you’ll have impressions taken of your tooth using dental putty and trays. These will be sent to our partner dental lab, where your crown will be made. You will be sent home with a temporary resin crown.
In 2-3 weeks, you’ll come back to our office for a follow-up. Dr. Pizzi will check the fit of your permanent crown, and make minor adjustments, if necessary. Then, your new crown will be attached to your tooth using powerful dental cement.
The process of getting a dental bridge is very similar. At your first appointment, the abutment teeth will be trimmed, and Dr. Pizzi will take impressions, send them to a dental lab, and place temporary crowns or a temporary bridge to protect your teeth. In a few weeks, you’ll come back to have your permanent bridge attached to your teeth, and your smile will be restored.
The Benefits
of Crowns & Bridges
Dental crowns are the ideal way to cover up, protect, and restore damaged teeth. They restore your smile and bite, and protect your tooth from further decay and other compilations.
Dental bridges also have a variety of unique benefits. Compared to dentures, they last longer and will never move or shift, allowing you to chew, bite, and speak with confidence. In addition, the treatment process is faster, less invasive, and cheaper compared to dental implants.
How long
Do Crowns & Bridges last?
Dental crowns can easily last 10-20 years or longer with proper care. Bridges tend to have a slightly shorter lifespan. You can expect a bridge to last between 5-15 years. The lifespan of both crowns and bridges can be extended with proper dental care, such as brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and seeing the team at your dentist in Del Mar for a teeth cleaning and oral exam every six months.
Does it hurt
to get a dental crown?
No. Dental crowns don’t hurt at all. Before your treatment begins, Dr. Todd Pizzi will use numbing spray and injections to numb the nerves below the treatment area. This ensures you won’t feel any discomfort while your tooth is trimmed and prepared for your dental crown.
You also won’t experience any serious pain or discomfort after your tooth has been trimmed. Your newly-trimmed tooth may be somewhat sensitive, but your temporary resin crown will protect it and ensure you can continue to eat normally while you wait for your permanent crown to be built.
What to do if
i chip a crown?
If you chip a crown, you should contact the team at Del Mar Dental Studio right away. A chipped crown is not extremely urgent, but if the crown is severely damaged, this could expose your natural tooth to oral bacteria and cause complications if you don’t get it repaired or replaced.
In addition, chipping a crown could leave a sharp edge on your crown, which could cut your tongue, lips, or other oral tissue. Make sure you call us at (858) 755-0187 to tell us about the situation and schedule an appointment.
The proper solution for your chipped crown depends on how badly it’s been damaged. If the damage is not very severe, Dr. Pizzi may choose to simply smooth out and reshape the crown, or repair it with tooth-like dental resin to restore its shape.
However, if the crown is badly cracked or chipped, it will need to be completely replaced. Dr. Pizzi will remove the remaining crown material and assess your tooth to make sure that it hasn’t been damaged. Then, he will fit you for a new crown and, similarly to the initial crown placement process, you’ll get a temporary crown to protect your tooth for a few weeks until your new permanent crown has been built and sent to Del Mar Dental Studio.
what happens if
i don't get a crown?
This depends on why you needed a crown. For example, if you have a misshapen tooth or a serious stain and you need a crown for cosmetic reasons, nothing bad will happen if you don’t get one. Your tooth will simply maintain its current appearance.
This is different if you need a crown for dental health reasons, though. Crowns are usually recommended when your tooth has been seriously damaged by tooth decay or an oral injury. If you don’t get a crown, your condition will only get worse.
If your tooth is seriously damaged and you don’t get a crown, it’s likely that your tooth will become infected. Bacteria will attack the nerve-filled pulp below the tooth, killing it and causing a very painful toothache. You will need to get a root canal to save the tooth. And if you don’t get a root canal, the tooth will eventually die and it will either fall out of your mouth or require extraction at Del Mar Dental Studio.
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