Traditionally, people with missing teeth, or structural tooth problems, like fractures or teeth severely damaged by decay, were subject to endless dental office visits and a mouthful of very unnatural looking and feeling partial denture teeth. We have advanced the science of crowns, bridges, and dental implants to offer solutions that remedy problems safely and restore a full, attractive, natural smile.
Dental crowns, dental bridges or dental implants can help to improve your smile and to make you feel more confident and self assured. If you have missing teeth or teeth that suffer from extreme decay then Dr. Sugar may be able to restore your beautiful smile using dental crowns or dental bridges or even dental implants.
Aesthetic Enhancements: Crowns, Onlays, and Bridges
Crowns (or caps) are dental restorations that are placed over a tooth when conservative restorations are insufficient to restore form and function. An onlay is similar to a crown, but covers less tooth structure. A bridge serves to replace a missing tooth or teeth. One type of bridge consists of crowns placed on either side of the missing tooth to connect the replacement tooth or teeth to them. Another type of bridge consists of the replacement tooth attached 
to the adjacent teeth with wing-like appendages. Bridges can also be supported by dental implants. Crowns and bridges can be made entirely of tooth-colored material, metal, or a combination to provide optimal aesthetics. Some metal-free crowns and bridges incorporate stress-bearing materials to enhance their strength and wear-resistance.
Dental crowns are fitted onto existing teeth that have suffered extreme decay. Dr. Sugar will clean up the decayed portion of your tooth and then fit a crown to the remaining portion of the tooth. The dental crown fits over the remaining portion of the tooth to become permanent. Care for your dental crown is then like the rest of your remaining teeth with regular brushing and flossing.
Dental bridges can help to fill gaps where you have missing teeth due to any number of reasons. Dental bridges may be used to fill spaces where one or more teeth are missing. With dental bridges the replacement teeth are specially created to fit your mouth and once completed 
they are then bonded to existing teeth to become permanent. You will not need to remove your dental bridge to clean it, but rather you will brush and floss as you normally would. Dental bridges may be the solution that you seek when you have gaps of missing teeth.
Dental implants are used in various situations. One example is for someone who desires to have a permanent tooth to fill a gap between teeth, while another example would be to have a dental tooth implant to help hold a partial denture in place. Dental tooth implants place a permanent tooth where a tooth is currently missing and are helpful for cosmetic dentistry reasons as well as utility within your mouth.
To learn more about dental crowns, dental bridges or dental implants, follow the links or contact our office. We take the time to explain dental procedures and will help you to understand the processes involved in your cosmetic dental procedures so that you will feel comfortable in the knowledge of what to expect when you receive any dental treatment.
Achieve a brighter or healthier smile with dental implants, dental crowns or dental bridges
CROWNS
What is a Crown? back to top
When a tooth is fractured, has a large, old filling, or is severely damaged by decay, we may recommend the placement of a crown, or cap. Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your smile. Types of crowns include the full porcelain crowns, the porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, all metal crowns and different variations of these. Crowns surround the entire tooth, unlike a veneer which just covers the visible surface of the tooth. Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to our office.
Crowns - What are the Benefits? back to top
Before crowns, the only real option for a broken down tooth was extraction. Crowns have given dentists, and in turn patients, the ability to fix certain dental situations.
Cavities, or dental decay, occurs when acid-forming bacteria in the mouth are supplied with sugars. With these sugars as their food, the bacteria produce acid that eats away at the tooth, creating cavities. Usually, cavities can be drilled out and filled with tooth-colored composite (or silver amalgam) fillings. However once too much tooth structure is lost, fillings will no longer suffice and the tooth will need to either be extracted or crowned.
In addition to cavities, age, wear, and fracture are other reasons a tooth may require a crown. With age, teeth tend to turn yellow, wear down, chip, and become less attractive. In addition, teeth can fracture from over-use or by accident. In these situations as well, crowns are a great way to restore function, esthetics, and beauty to a smile.
Crowns - What are the Costs? back to topCrowns are customized per patient, so to state their exact cost is not possible. However, when faced with the alternative of extraction, crowns are a great, simple, and cost effective way to save a tooth.
Teeth are part of your body, and an extremely important part at that. To extract a tooth instead of letting it function in your mouth for years to come is a shame and a disservice.
In two easy visits, crowns can transform your smile back to health and esthetic beauty, and keep it that way for many years if not the rest of your life.
Crowns - What is the Procedure? back to top
Making a crown for a tooth is a multi-step procedure usually requiring 2 visits to Dr. Sugar's office:
1.) Preparation of Tooth: First, the tooth must be prepared for the crown. This preparation involved removing approximately 1-2mm of tooth structure from around the entire visible tooth. Usually, much of the tooth that is removed has already been damaged by decay and/or fracture.
2.) Impression: Next, an impression of the prepared tooth is taken. This impression is send to the dental lab so that they can create a new crown for the tooth that fits the prepared tooth exactly.
3.) Temps: After the preparation of the tooth, a temporary crown is placed on the tooth so the patient can function normally between appointments. This temp is removed at the second visit when the final crown from the lab is ready for insertion.
4.) Lab Work: Dr. Sugar uses one the finest dental labs in the world. They create his crowns from the finest porcelain, noble, and precious metals in the world. Crowns are usually created 1) Completely of porcelain, 2) From porcelain with a metal framework underneath, or 3) From gold for unique circumstances. (The choice of material is usually dependent on esthetics, tooth position, and occlusion.) From theimpression the lab is able to create a beautiful, natural, new crown for the tooth.
5.) Placement: After the lab technician creates the customized crown for the patient, Dr. Sugar skillfully cements the crown into the patient's mouth at their second visit. He also makes any necessary adjustments at this time.
Crowns are a great way to make broken down, decayed teeth look like new again. You can expect crowns to last for many years to keep your smile healthy, functional, and beautiful!
Crowns - How long do they last? back to top
Two of the major questions that people ask when it comes to crowns are, "What is the long-term success rate?" and "How long will they last?".
Crowns have been known to stay in the mouth for over 20 years. In many cases, with proper oral hygiene and care, there is no reason why crowns cannot last for the rest of your life. Of course, as with any dental procedure, crowns may last more or less than the average expectancy, and accidents such as breakage can happen as with natural teeth. However we are confident that crowns with greatly improve your oral health and appearance for years to come.
BRIDGES
What is a Bridge? back to top
Bridges are used to fill in the space of a missing tooth with a natural looking substitute. Bridges can be supported by adjacent teeth, by implants, or by a combination of both. When done correctly, a bridge can make an otherwise ugly gap in your smile look natural and untouched.
Bridges - What are the Benefits? back to top
Although implants are an extremely viable option for replacing missing teeth, they can be expensive, and are sometimes not practical, especially if the 2 teeth adjacent to a gap need to be crowned anyway. In that situation, bridges are a great way to fix a gap in your smile!
The benefits of bridges are that they can fill most gaps, they last a long time, and they look great when done by a great dentist like Dr. Sugar.
Bridges - What are the Costs? back to topBridges are customized per patient, so to state their exact cost is not possible. The cost is usually proportional to the number of teeth that are being replaced, and the location of the teeth being replaced.
Bridges are a very cost effective option, however, because they last for a very long time and can rebuild a beat up smile.
Bridges - What is the Procedure? back to top
Making a bridge for a tooth is a multi-step procedure that usually requires at least 2 to 3 visits to Dr. Sugar's office:
1.) Preparation: First, the teeth adjacent to the gap must be prepared for the bridge. These preparations are similar to crown preparations, and are preferably done on teeth that would need to be crowned anyway. One, two, or even three teeth on each side of the gap may need to be prepared, depending on how many teeth need to be replaced.
2.) Impression: Next, an impression of entire region is taken, prepared teeth and gap. This impression is send to the dental lab so that they can create the bridge from porcelain and metal. The bridge is adapted perfectly to the tissues of the gap as too look natural but not irritate the tissue.
3.) Temps: After the preparation of the teeth and impressions, a temporary bridge is made to fill the gap between visits. This temp bridge gives the patient an idea of what the final restoration will look like.
4.) Lab Work: Dr. Sugar uses one the finest dental labs in the world. They create bridges from the finest and hardest porcelain and metals in the world. The bridges are custom made by patient in order to match color, texture, and make the new teeth look perfectly natural.
5.) Placement: After the lab technician creates the customized bridge for the patient, Dr. Sugar skillfully cements the the bridge into the patient's mouth and makes any necessary adjustments so that the fit is perfect.
Bridges - How long do they last? back to top
"How long will they last?" you might ask.
With the proper care and cleaning, many bridges last over 15 years. However, the statistical life expectancy is approximately 12 years.
Of course, like anything in the mouth, bridges are subject to many forces and breakage is possible, just like natural teeth. But rest assured, a bridge is a great option for filling that unattractive gap in your mouth.