Dental Crowns & Bridges in Fort Collins, CO
At the dental office of Ryan Rush DDS in Fort Collins, CO, we create high-quality, durable dental crowns and bridges using modern materials and the latest techniques. Also called tooth restorations, the goal of a crown or bridge is to restore lost chewing function, enhance your appearance, and let you smile confidently again.
The Difference Between Crowns and Bridges
A common question that our patients ask is, "What's the difference between a crown and a bridge?"
It’s a great question because the two are often mentioned together, so here’s the difference.
- Dental crowns also referred to as caps or tooth caps, are tooth-shaped shells of zirconia or porcelain customized to cover an entire tooth down to the gumline. The crown acts as a shield to protect the damaged or decayed tooth from wear and tear.
- Dental bridges are different because, unlike crowns, they replace missing teeth. A dental bridge spans the gap between missing teeth by placing an artificial tooth in the space and retaining it with dental crowns on adjacent teeth.
Why Our Dentist Recommends Crowns & Bridges
When we talk about dental function, we refer to your teeth’s ability to efficiently and comfortably break down and process the foods you eat. Each of your teeth is designed to function in a certain way, shearing, tearing, and grinding foods to break them down.
If one or more teeth can’t do their job because they’re damaged or missing, the remaining teeth have to take on the extra load. Sometimes this subjects the teeth to forces beyond what they’re meant to stand. Over time, this causes discomfort, excessive dental wear, teeth grinding and TMJ problems, and possible tooth fracture.
With dental crowns and bridges designed by our Fort Collins dentist, we can restore comfortable function and the appearance of your smile.
While crowns and bridges serve different purposes, the steps for getting them are the same.
