Fillings, crowns, & bridges in Plantation, Florida

Tooth decay, or a cavity, has quieter symptoms, too. You might not have pain in your teeth, but if you’ve noticed a white, yellow, brown, or black spot on a tooth – or an entire tooth that’s discolored – you could have a cavity.

We understand that people often are reluctant or nervous to treat such tooth problems. But tooth decay is quite common, affecting more than 90 percent of adults over age 40.

Unfortunately, ignoring it can lead to more serious issues, such as losing your tooth. One quarter of adults over age 60 have lost teeth primarily because of decay, which impacts not only your self-esteem but general nutrition and quality of life.

The good news is, our dentists in Plantation, FL, can address these issues and present you with the best way to repair your tooth and restore your healthy smile.

Dental Fillings

As we keep our natural teeth longer, we become more prone to cavities. More than 90 percent of Americans has had a cavity, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and 1 in 4 adults has untreated cavities.

Aside from signaling tooth decay, painful cavities make it tough to sleep, eat, or concentrate. The good news is, a dental filling is an easy and cost-effective fix. The days of drilling away healthy tooth structure to fit a silver-colored filling are over.

Our dentist in Plantation uses composite fillings, which requires the dentist to remove only the decayed area. Composite fillings look natural because they’re made of durable, tooth-colored material. What’s more, they chemically bond to your tooth, making it stronger.

What Is a Tooth Crown?

Dental fillings treat decay that has affected only a small part of a tooth. If you have more severe decay, leaving less healthy enamel to bond to a filling, the dentist likely will recommend a crown.

A dental crown acts as a cap for your tooth. Crafted from dental porcelain that’s as natural in color as your own teeth, it completely covers the affected tooth down to the gums, making it stronger and restoring its normal function. Once a crown is in place, only you and your dentist will be able to tell that it’s not your natural tooth.

The Dental Crown Procedure

Crowning or capping a tooth usually takes two visits. First, our dentist must prepare the tooth to support the crown, either by removing a small bit of tooth enamel or by building up the remaining natural tooth material.

Once the tooth is prepared, the dentist will create an impression of your tooth for the dental lab. The dentist then will attach a temporary crown to your tooth to protect it until your next appointment, when we will adhere the permanent crown in place.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

Both crowns and fillings are good treatment options to repair and restore damaged teeth. But if one of your teeth is already missing, or if your tooth needs to be extracted, you can fill that space with a dental bridge to reestablish your smile and your bite.

The Dental Bridge Procedure

A dental bridge is like a partial denture in that it replaces missing teeth. But it remains permanently in your mouth, like a crown. A bridge is constructed of two crowns that fit over the healthy teeth on either side of your missing tooth. These crowns attach to a pontic, an artificial tooth that’s crafted from the same dental material as a crown and fills in the gap.

Bridges are designed in various lengths, depending on your needs. A three-unit bridge (two crowns and one pontic) typically replaces one missing tooth. Two missing teeth might need a four-unit bridge (two crowns and two pontics).

If you have additional questions about dental bridges or crowns, our helpful office in Plantation is glad to schedule an appointment for you. Please call us today at (954) 651-9315.