Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges allow your dentist in Florissant, MO, to return your smile to full function when you have a decayed, broken, or missing tooth. At Derhake Dental, we carefully customize these high-quality tooth restorations to match surrounding teeth so no one will notice them when you smile.

Why Do I Need a Dental Crown?

A crown is a tooth-shaped porcelain jacket that surrounds the damaged tooth and is often called a “cap.”

We commonly recommend a crown when a tooth is so damaged or decayed that it needs additional support to function properly. Common uses for porcelain dental crowns are:

  • Strengthen a cracked or broken tooth
  • Restore a badly decayed tooth
  • Support dental bridgework
  • Protect a root-canaled tooth
  • Restore a dental implant

To determine if you need a crown, Dr. Sarah Spring will take x-rays of the tooth to determine the type and extent of the damage. In some cases, a dental inlay or onlay might be a better choice, and she will explain your treatment options if any.

What Is the Process for Getting a Dental Crown?

If we recommend a crown, you can expect two visits to Derhake Dental.

First Appointment: Preparing the Tooth

We take the following steps to get your tooth ready to receive the final restoration:

  • Numb the tooth with a strong anesthetic.
  • Remove decay and build up the tooth if necessary.
  • File the tooth’s sides and chewing surface to make room for the restoration.
  • Take digital impressions of the prepared tooth.
  • Select the perfect shade of white to match your smile.
  • Place a temporary on the tooth to protect it.
  • Send impressions to a custom lab that prepares your crown.

Second Appointment: Placing Your Final Restoration

When your restoration is ready in 2–3 weeks, we’ll take the following steps to place it:

  • Inspect the final crown for quality.
  • Remove the temporary.
  • Fit the new restoration on the tooth.
  • Adjust the crown for comfortable biting.
  • Cement the crown securely to the tooth.

A porcelain or ceramic crown can last 15-20 years or longer with proper care, including brushing, flossing, and visiting us for routine cleanings and exams.

Dental Bridges Replace Missing Teeth

Replacing teeth is essential for your comfort, confidence, and oral health. A fixed bridge is a dental prosthetic designed to fill the gap left by a missing tooth. High-quality bridges at Derhake Dental are an excellent solution if you are missing one or two teeth in a row.

A fixed dental bridge consists of an artificial tooth called a pontic attached securely with dental crowns on adjacent teeth (abutment teeth). A removable bridge is attached with metal clasps. 

Why We Recommend a Dental Bridge

Getting a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth offers the following benefits:

  • Helps you chew and eat comfortably
  • Fills in the gap in your smile
  • Prevents shifting of surrounding teeth
  • Provides a fixed alternative to a removable partial denture

We prepare a tooth for a dental bridge following the same steps for a crown as listed above, and the entire process takes about three weeks.

Do You Have Broken or Missing Teeth?

If you want to smile confidently and chew comfortably again, we would love to meet you to explain how a crown or bridge can help you. Please call Derhake Dental in Florissant, MO, to schedule a convenient dental appointment.