Complete Your Smile With a Crown or Bridge
A damaged or missing tooth can leave a lasting impact on your appearance and oral health. It can alter your smile, restrict your food choices, and even impair your ability to speak clearly.
Here at Dr. K Ashraf Dentistry, we use natural-looking porcelain dental crowns and bridges to restore the function and beauty of your smile. If you have a tooth that’s been damaged by dental trauma, decay, or tooth loss, these long-lasting restoration options allow us to provide you with a beautiful new smile.
As a certified restorative dentist, Dr. Ashraf works precisely to ensure each patient leaves with a stunning, fully-functioning smile. These restorations will have you looking your best while supporting excellent oral health.
What’s a Dental Crown?
A dental crown, also known as a tooth cap, is placed over a newly restored tooth to look and function like a natural tooth. A porcelain crown can also be used to replace a missing tooth as part of a dental implant.
Dr. Ashraf creates each crown specifically for you — he matches the color, size, and shape of your natural teeth so it fits comfortably along your gum line. Your crown is custom-made to protect the damaged tooth, strengthen it, and enhance the beauty of your smile.
Are You a Candidate for a Dental Crown?
Our patients choose dental crowns for a variety of reasons, including:
- Protecting chipped, cracked, or damaged teeth
- Topping off a dental implant
- Securing a dental bridge
- Restoring a tooth after root canal therapy
- Improving the appearance of crooked teeth
CEREC® One-Day Crowns & Restorations
At our Waterloo-Kitchener office, we offer same-day crowns, inlays, onlays, and bridges with our state-of-the-art technology — restoring your smile has never been easier or more accurate.
CEREC, also known as Ceramic Restoration, is a computer-assisted design and manufacturing system that creates a 3D digital model of your teeth. Thanks to CEREC’s easy digital impressions, you’ll never have to sit in a dental chair waiting for the impression material to harden..
Dentists who get their crowns from a dental laboratory require two office visits to place a crown. But CEREC features a milling machine, allowing us to create high-quality, natural-looking restorations right here in our office. That way, we can provide a stunning new crown in just one visit .
If you’ve recently had a dental emergency that’s compromised your smile, call Dr. Ashraf to learn how our same-day CEREC restorations can revitalize your teeth.
What’s a Dental Bridge?
If you’re missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge may be the right treatment to improve the appearance and function of your smile.
A dental bridge is a tooth replacement treatment that fills a gap in your smile. The replacement tooth in a dental bridge is referred to as a pontic. Bridges are typically held in place with dental crowns that are attached to the natural teeth at each end of the gap. But bridges can also be secured using dental implants.
To support the prosthetic, neighboring teeth at each end of the gap must be reshaped so your temporary crowns fit snugly. Once your bridge is ready, you can return to our Waterloo office to have it placed.
The Benefits of a Dental Bridge
If you’re seeking a natural-looking restoration option at an affordable price, then a dental bridge may be right for you. There are many advantages you’ll enjoy with a bridge, including:
- Restore functionality for eating and speaking
- Help preserve the natural shape of your face
- Enhance chewing ability
- Prevent your natural teeth from shifting position
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do crowns and bridges cost?
The cost of your crown or bridge depends on your unique situation. There are a variety of factors that can affect the cost of your treatment, including the material of your crown, how many teeth need treatment, and the coverage of your insurance.
When you meet with Dr. Ashraf, we’ll be able to provide a more accurate cost estimate based on your needs. If you want to know how much coverage your insurer provides, we recommend contacting them for more detailed information.
What’s the difference between a temporary and permanent dental bridge?
A temporary dental bridge is placed at the end of your first appointment, after your teeth have been prepared. This temporary bridge will protect your teeth and allow you to have normal function while eating until your permanent bridge is ready.
When your permanent bridge is complete, we’ll call you back to our office for placement. Dr. Ashraf will securely place your permanent bridge. Your permanent bridge will look natural and stay in place throughout your daily life.
How long do dental crowns and bridges last?
Dental crowns and bridges can last as long as 15 years if they’re taken care of properly. While they aren’t permanent tooth replacements, they’re created from durable materials that are meant to withstand your daily life.
How long your dental crown or bridge lasts depends on how well you take care of your oral hygiene and on your daily habits. Some habits, such as chewing on ice, can damage your natural teeth as well as your crown or bridge.
Scheduling regular cleanings with Dr. Ashraf will also help ensure they last for years to come.
Can I whiten a dental crown?
Dental crowns can’t be whitened. They’re resistant to staining, so your crown won’t change color as easily as your natural teeth, but they also don’t respond to whitening agents.
Your crown will be color-matched to your natural teeth. If you’d like to have your teeth whitened, we recommend having a whitening procedure done before you receive your dental crown. If your natural teeth begin to stain and look darker than your crown, a whitening treatment can help them to match again.
What are my options if my crown has been damaged?
If your crown has been damaged, call our office at 519-725-9585 as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Depending on the severity, Dr. Ashraf may be able to repair or replace your crown after examining it.
We’ll try to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If we can’t schedule an immediate appointment, you may be able to use dental cement to keep your crown in place. Dental cement is available at many drugstore locations.
Restore Your Smile Today With Dr. Ashraf
If you have damaged or missing teeth, Dr. Ashraf can restore your smile and protect your oral health with dental crowns and bridges.
Contact our office at 519-725-9585 to speak with a friendly member of our team about our restorative treatments. We’ll be happy to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ashraf to determine which treatment best suits your needs.