Dental crowns & bridges in Brandon, MS

Crowns

Over time, a tooth can become weak, cracked or decayed. A crown is a custom-made cap that covers the whole visible part of the tooth to protect it and help it work normally again. Crowns are often recommended after a large filling, a crack, or a root canal.

Crowns can be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. Porcelain looks the most like a natural tooth; your dentist will suggest the best material for where the tooth is and how you bite.

What to expect

1. Preparing the tooth. After numbing the area, your dentist shapes the tooth so the crown will fit over it.
2. Impression and temporary crown. We take an impression (a mold) of the tooth and place a temporary crown to protect it.
3. Fitting the permanent crown. When your crown comes back from the lab, we check the fit, color and bite, then cement it in place.

Most crowns take two to three visits. How long a crown lasts depends on your habits, your bite and how you care for it — your dentist can talk with you about what to expect for your tooth.

Bridges

A bridge replaces a missing tooth by attaching a false tooth to crowns on the natural teeth on either side of the gap. While your permanent bridge is being made, we can place a temporary bridge so you’re not without a tooth. It can take a few days to get used to a new bridge.

Other ways to replace a missing tooth include a dental implant or a partial denture. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each for your situation.

Cost and insurance

Many dental plans cover part of the cost of crowns and bridges. We file your claim for you, and we can set up a payment plan for major treatment. See insurance & financing.

Crown and bridge questions