Whether you have a missing tooth, a discolored tooth, or gaps in your smile, dental bridges and crowns can enhance your appearance and your confidence. Here at Hickman Family Dental, we offer both dental crowns and dental bridges to patients in the Des Moines and Urbandale areas seeking to complete their smiles. Learn more about these common dental procedures here to see if they’re right for you.
A dental crown is a protective cap that is individually crafted to fit over your natural tooth. Dental crowns can be used to repair damaged or decayed teeth, restoring their strength and stability. Not only can dental crowns improve the look of your smile, but they’ll also help you chew normally and restore your teeth’ function.
Your crowns can be made from porcelain, gold, and other metals, or acrylic resin. Porcelain crowns typically have the most natural appearance, although they can also be less durable than other materials. Dr. Krehbiel or Dr. Erickson will help you decide what kind of crowns are right for you.
Dental crowns are best known for creating beautiful smiles. However, they also offer numerous benefits, including:
Typically, the dental crown process is completed in just two appointments. At your initial appointment, your natural tooth will be prepared for its new crown. Once the shape of your tooth is adjusted, we will use an iTero digital scanner to capture a highly accurate digital scan of your tooth that will be immediately sent to the dental lab to make your customized crown. You’ll receive a temporary crown while you wait for your permanent restoration.
At your second appointment, your permanent crown will be placed on your tooth. First, Dr. Krehbiel will remove the temporary crown and clean your tooth properly. Once your dental crown has been permanently affixed, you’ll be able to enjoy its benefits for 15 years or more with good dental hygiene habits.
A dental bridge is a restoration used to fill the space where a tooth has been removed or fallen out. Dental bridges consist of a pontic (or a filler tooth) that’s attached to two surrounding dental crowns. This is a popular solution for patients who have more than one adjacent missing tooth.
Dental bridges safeguard your existing teeth, and they’ll also help you maintain a healthy smile. If you have several missing teeth, this is an excellent restoration solution.
Dental bridges offer a variety of benefits, including:
Receiving your dental bridges can typically be completed in just two visits to our Urbandale, IA office. During your initial appointment, our team will prepare your anchor teeth by removing a small amount of tooth enamel, then capping your teeth with porcelain crowns. Next, to ensure your customized bridge is accurately made while also reducing your wait time, we utilize an iTero digital scanner to take an extremely detailed digital scan of your teeth, which is then immediately sent to the dental lab for creation.
At your second visit, Dr. Krehbiel or Dr. Erickson will check the appearance and fit of your new dental bridge before securing it into place. Then, all you’ll have to do is take care of your beautiful new smile.
No, your dental bridge isn’t permanent, but with proper oral care, it can last between 10 and 15 years. By maintaining an excellent at-home oral hygiene routine combined with regular visits to Hickman Family dental every 6 months, you can increase the longevity of your custom restoration.
To help your dental bridge last longer, follow these tips:
The cost of dental crowns treatment varies from patient to patient. Factors that influence the total cost include which type of crown you receive and whether or not your insurance covers a portion of the expenses. It’s important to keep in mind that most insurance providers will cover a part of your dental crown treatment unless it’s being used for cosmetic purposes.
If you have any questions about the total cost of dental crowns treatments, contact our Urbandale office at (515) 276-4981.
Here at Hickman Family Dental, our team is dedicated to helping patients in the Des Moines and Urbandale areas achieve the smile of their dreams. If you’d like to discuss your options for dental crowns and bridges or schedule an appointment with one of our exceptional dentists, call our Urbandale office at (515) 276-4981 today. You can also get in touch by filling out our online contact form and one of our team members will get back to you shortly.
