Dental Bridges

Inlays/Onlays

If your teeth are slightly cracked or worn and damaged and is not extensive enough to warrant the use of a full dental crown, our experienced Madison dentists may recommend a dental inlay or onlay. Also known as partial crowns, inlays and onlays can be made of zirconia or gold for chewing teeth to protect the surfaces or more esthetic porcelain or resin that matches the color and appearance of the visible non chewing teeth. The advantage of the inlays and onlays is than they require less tooth removal that full crowns but still perfectly fit to restore the health, functions, and appearance of your smile.

Fixed Dental Bridges

Are you missing one or more teeth? If so, one of the options to replace those teeth is a fixed dental bridge. It is a simple procedure that our team has performed hundreds of times.

Replacing those teeth is a vital part of maintaining your oral health. When a tooth is lost due to untreated decay, gum disease or trauma, the space that is left can cause several problems. Spacing and alignment can change as the remaining adjacent and opposing teeth will move freely to fill in the space created by the missing tooth. The misalignment provides locations for plaque build up which can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Another situation that can occur with the misaligned teeth is bite problems that may lead to TMJ disorders.

A dental bridge, which consists of an artificial tooth (pontic) connected to two crowns that are fixed to the two teeth on each side of the space, can solve the misalignment problems.

This restoration which can be made of metal, ceramic, or zirconia, simply “bridges” the space for an effective long lasting solution that returns the mouth to its ideal function and improves the quality of your smile.

The procedure for the crowns, onlays and bridges may require only two office visits. At the first appointment a diagnosis and exam is initiated to check for decay,gum health and any pulpal issues. The tooth, or teeth, are anesthetized so the tooth can be prepared. Some teeth may require some reconstruction so the restoration will fit properly around the tooth. An impression is made and sent to a lab where the restoration will be made. A temporary crown is placed on the tooth to protect it while the permanent restoration is made.

At the second appointment the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown, bridge or only is connected permanently.

All crowns provided in our office are made in the USA. Should the crown break or fail during the first year due to defects in workmanship, it will be replaced at no charge to the patient. Porcelain-containing crowns on second and third molars or in patients with severe bruxism are excluded, as are failures due to accident or injury.