Tooth fillings, crowns, & bridges in Columbus
When was the last time you were able to smile or laugh wholeheartedly without feeling self-conscious? When patients live with dental decay or damage, the appearance of their smile is always on their mind. That's why it's important to know that tooth fillings, crowns, and bridges can all help to restore your smile. With help from the right dentist, there's no limit to what your new smile can look like! Here at our Columbus dental office, we help patients improve their oral health every single day. Contact us today for a consultation.
What Are Dental Fillings?
A tooth filling is a minimally invasive restorative treatment for teeth that have cavities or decay. Here's what a tooth filling procedure looks like:
- Step 1: A dentist removes the decay from the tooth.
- Step 2: The tooth is cleaned.
- Step 3: The cavity is filled with dental material.
When done in the early stages, a filling can help to protect a tooth against further decay!
Crowns and Bridge: Here's What You Should Know
When decay is more severe, crowns and bridges can be used to restore teeth. Both are removable appliances that bring structure and support to the mouth. Both are also connected to the teeth using high-bond cement that is designed to offer permanent dental bonding. However, the two treatments have very different purposes.
Crowns are dental caps that fully cover a single damaged tooth in order to provide an aesthetic benefit while also preserving the tooth. A bridge is generally used for more complicated situations that involve the loss of more than one tooth. Using a row of pontic teeth, a dentist can restore one to three teeth simultaneously.
Your Local Dentist Can Provide Fillings, Crowns, and Bridges
The best way to know if you need restorative dental work to help preserve your smile is simply to keep up with routine dental cleanings and checkups! This allows your dentist to spot telltale signs of decay early. However, you shouldn't hesitate to wait until your next appointment if you suspect that there's decay or damage. Call our dental office today to inquire about our restorative options. Our staff will discuss cost and insurance coverage with you!
Tooth Filling Cost, Dental Bridge Cost, and Dental Crown Cost: What to Expect
While we understand that you may be eager to learn about the costs for common dental procedures, it's not possible to provide a blanket estimate. At our office, these treatments are fully customized to meet the needs of each patient. From the materials you choose for your dental hardware to your insurance coverage, there are many different factors that affect a patient's out-of-pocket costs. We encourage you to book an appointment today to receive a custom estimate!
A Look at Different Options for Tooth Fillings
Nobody needs to know you've had dental work done just because you're dealing with extensive decay. Our office has options for fillings that are designed to match the appearance of your natural teeth. In addition to natural-looking, tooth-colored composite, our office also offers gold, silver amalgam, and porcelain fillings. Contact us today to discuss fillings!
A Look at Crowns
Patients can also select from a variety of different tooth crown options. Generally, we make recommendations for crown materials based on the location of the affected tooth. If you need to cover a front tooth, ceramic crowns for teeth are often chosen for their aesthetic benefits and durability. Gold is a popular option for back teeth.
A Look at Bridges
Our dental office is pleased to be able to provide several options for dental bridges. Each bridge that we create utilizes custom fabrication to provide our patients the natural appearance and comfort they desire. We offer both traditional pontic bridges and cantilever bridges.
What to Expect When Getting a Dental Crown
If you need a crown, there's no need to feel overwhelmed! Crown placement is a very gentle procedure that won't take up much of your time. First, your dentist will carefully prepare the affected tooth. This can involve changing the shape of the tooth to make room for the crown. Next, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth in its prepared shape that will be used to do a custom fabrication of your crown. As you wait for your new crown to be made, you'll be given a temporary crown that will allow you to feel confident when you walk out of our office! Finally, your new permanent crown will be bonded to your tooth when it is ready.
What to Expect When Getting a Tooth Bridge
Like fillings and crowns, bridges are placed in the mouth using a very gentle procedure that doesn't take much time. Most patients are able to get bridges completed in just two visits. During the first visit, the teeth abutting the affected tooth or teeth will be prepared by removing some enamel. We will provide you with a temporary bridge that conceals the fact that your teeth are still a "work in progress." At the next visit, a custom bridge will be put in place. We'll also adjust the new tooth bridge to provide a natural, comfortable fit.
