Porcelain Crowns & Bridges

During your dental examination each tooth is evaluated individually and as a comprehensive system. Our dentists and hygienists often take detailed intraoral photos of your teeth to monitor for changes, or more thoroughly discuss treatment needs so that you can fully be involved in decision-making and understand any recommendations.

A crown is indicated when there is more extensive tooth structure loss, leaving behind minimal healthy, strong tooth structure. In this situation, a tooth-colored filling is inadequate to provide the tooth with the strength and protection for long-term success, and a porcelain restoration is a better long-term option.

Porcelain restorations require two visits, the initial appointment will be the longer visit where decay or cracks are removed and an impression will be taken of the tooth. You will wear a temporary restoration until your stronger, porcelain restoration is fabricated (usually about 2 weeks). These restorations are custom made by highly-trained ceramists at specific, hand-selected USA laboratories by our dentists. Materials and technique matter every step of the way when fabricating a long-lasting restoration, Elite Dental chooses only the top-level materials to use on patients within our office.

Crown Prep with Core Buildup

This video shows you how a doctor adds structure to a damaged tooth, so it can be successfully crowned and preserved.

Filling vs. Crown

In situations where there is a missing tooth, one treatment option available is a porcelain bridge. A bridge uses the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth to connect the teeth and fill in the missing tooth space. These restorations may be the preferred choice where dental implants are not an option. Bridge appointments follow the same process as crowns, where there are two visits and a temporary restoration in the interim.

Call Elite Dental at 703-243-4500 to schedule an appointment and ensure the health and longevity of your smile!