Crowns

While fillings are a great treatment for cavities, they are unsatisfactory for larger issues. Crowns are an effective method of treating teeth that have suffered a lot of damage due to a number of reasons. A crown, otherwise known as a cap, is a way of replacing the entire outer surface of a tooth. It can handle a number of dental issues, including:

• Decay involving half the tooth width
• Following a root canal
• Severely worn teeth
• Broken cusps, or edges
• Cosmetic reasons

At BioDental, our focus is providing our patients with metal-free options. The reasons for this are numerous, including:

• Conserve more of the natural tooth
• Eliminate the risk of allergies to metal
• Beautiful in appearance
• Lengthen the life of a tooth

Procedure

When a patient receives a dental crown, Dr. Matian will first numb the area with local anesthetic. In the case of a tooth that has been fractured or received a root canal, Dr. Matian will create a buildup—a filling that builds up the remainder of the tooth if there is not enough for the crown to latch to. The buildup is then shaped to make room for the crown.

Following this, an impression is made of the remaining tooth so that a properly fitting crown may be constructed. This impression is made with the use of putty or a digital scanner. During that time, Encino Dentist, Dr. Matian will also gather cosmetic information, such as shade of the teeth, so that the lab technician may ensure that the crown matches the rest of the patient’s teeth.

Once this is done, a temporary crown is constructed so the patient can chew properly while the permanent crown is made. The temporary crown is placed using temporary cement so that it may be easily removed when the permanent crown is ready to be installed. Once the permanent crown is available, it is fixed in place with permanent cement.

At BioDental, we are proud to use CEREC technology, which allows us to produce metal-free crowns the same day. This means that instead of waiting for several weeks, patients are able to walk out of our office with a permanent crown in place and no need to return for a follow up appointment. It all goes towards providing the best dental crowns Encino has to offer.

Bridge

Sometimes the decay of a tooth has reached such a critical level that pulling it is the only option. In this case, there is a broad gap left between its neighbors. Left untreated, this gap leaves room for the neighboring teeth to shift and try to fill the empty space. This will create an imbalance within the mouth and also leaves the gums susceptible to disease. A bridge can be used to span the gap and prevent any further complications. There are also obvious cosmetic reasons a patient would receive a bridge.

While the preparation of a bridge is similar to that of a crown, the waiting period may be longer. After extraction of the tooth, there is a gap in the gums, and the waiting period allows this gap to shrink.

Procedure

During a patient’s first visit for a bridge, the teeth directly next to the gap are prepared for the bridge. This means that they are reduced and contoured so there is room for a bridge to be placed over them. Once this is done, an impression of the teeth is made so that a bridge can be custom made to fit the area. During the first visit, Dr. Matian will create a temporary bridge so the gap and contoured teeth are not exposed while the permanent bridge is manufactured.

The second visit occurs once the permanent bridge has been made. The temporary bridge is removed and the permanent bridge is fitted and adjusted to ensure a proper fit. Occasionally Dr. Matian will decide to temporarily cement the permanent bridge in place for a couple weeks, just to make sure that it works well on a day-to-day basis. Once everything looks good, the bridge is permanently fixed into place.

Because Dr. Matian is an expert in all forms of cosmetic and general dentistry, he is the perfect candidate to perform your bridge or crown. He will leave your teeth in their healthiest possible state while looking natural and beautiful. Call us to find out more about what we can do for you.

**Conditions May Apply:

• Limited to first unit.
• Offer does not apply for patients with insurance
• Does not apply to implant crowns
• Supporting procedures (if needed) are additional
• Applies to new patients on first crown
• Can not combine with any other special offers