Crowns & Bridges

Two Restorations That Work Beautifully Together

Crowns and bridges go hand in hand. A crown is a custom cap that covers a damaged tooth to restore its strength and appearance. A bridge is a way to fill the gap left by a missing tooth — it uses crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap as anchors, with a replacement tooth in the middle.

Together, they let Dr. Carroll fix a wide range of problems — from a single damaged tooth to a missing one — without resorting to dentures or surgery.

Why Replace a Missing Tooth?

It might seem easier to just leave a gap — especially if it's in the back where no one can see it. But missing teeth cause more problems than people realize:

• Neighboring teeth start to drift into the gap, throwing off your bite
• The opposite tooth can over-erupt, causing pain or further damage
• Chewing becomes harder and gets shifted to one side
• Your jawbone can shrink in the area where the tooth is missing
• Speech can change, especially with front teeth
• Your face can start to look slightly sunken over time

How a Bridge Is Placed

Getting a bridge is straightforward. It usually takes two appointments:

1. 1Dr. Carroll prepares the two teeth that will hold the bridge by reshaping them slightly so the crowns will fit. The area is numbed first, so you won't feel anything.
2. 2A digital impression is taken of your teeth and sent to the dental lab, where your custom bridge is made to fit perfectly and match the color of your other teeth.
3. 3You'll go home with a temporary bridge to protect the prepared teeth while you wait. It works fine for eating and looks normal.
4. 4About two weeks later, you come back for the permanent bridge. Dr. Carroll checks the fit, makes any small adjustments, and cements it into place.

Once it's in, the bridge looks and feels just like your real teeth. You can eat normally, brush like always (with a little extra attention to flossing under the bridge), and forget it's even there.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you've been living with a missing tooth — or you've been told you need a crown and aren't sure where to start — give us a call. We'll walk you through your options honestly.