Fixed Crown & Bridge
Missing or broken teeth can be restored with porcelain bridges or single crowns. Dr. Cieplak offers a functional and appealing solution to these problems.

Crowns or Caps

A crown looks like a tooth and is hollow inside, like a thimble. The crown is usually made of porcelain that is fused to an inner metal core. Crowns are used to strengthen weak teeth and to improve aesthetics. They are indicated for teeth that have large fillings, broken teeth, and teeth treated with a root canal therapy that become quite brittle.

The compromised tooth is prepared by reducing its size, so that the crown can be cemented over it. The crown is constructed in the laboratory from an impression of the prepared tooth according to our exacting specifications. Dr. Cieplak uses all porcelain crowns for front teeth to achieve extremely natural looking results.

Fixed Bridgework

Teeth were designed to compliment each other. When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may shift toward the empty space, or the teeth in the opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space. This places unusual stress on both the teeth and tissue in your mouth, which results in fractured teeth, periodontal disease, and joint problems.

A bridge is used to replace one or more teeth and is permanently cemented in the mouth. The teeth adjacent to the missing teeth are prepared or reduced in size and serve as anchors for the fixed bridge. The patient wears a temporary acrylic bridge for a short period of time so that a permanent bridge can be fabricated in the laboratory. The bridge is ultimately cemented to the prepared teeth with a dental cement.

A bridge offers a very aesthetic and quick replacement for missing teeth. It improves appearance, self-confidence and helps eliminate future dental problems. It provides a more stable bite with excellent function, comfort, and esthetics. However, in each case it should be determined whether the most advantages treatment for the patient should be a bridge or individual supporting implants.

Some patients dislike the idea of preparing or reducing their natural teeth to receive a fixed bridge. Other options are available including the more natural look and feel of a dental implant.