Crowns & Bridges
Restore your smile with durable restorations
Comprehensive Tooth Restoration Solutions
When a tooth is damaged beyond what a filling can repair, or when one or more teeth are missing, crowns and bridges offer reliable, long-lasting solutions. These restorations restore both the function and appearance of your natural smile.
At Forever Smiles Turlock, we create custom crowns and bridges from premium materials that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, giving you a restoration that feels, looks, and functions like a real tooth.
Dental Crowns
Complete coverage for damaged or weak teeth
What Is a Crown?
A dental crown (or cap) is a tooth-shaped restoration that covers the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gum line. It's cemented in place to restore a tooth's shape, size, strength, and appearance.
When Do You Need a Crown?
- Tooth with a large filling or extensive decay
- Broken or chipped tooth that's too damaged for a filling
- Discolored or misshapen tooth
- Tooth that's been treated with a root canal
- Weak or worn tooth needing strengthening
- Tooth requiring cosmetic improvement
Crown Materials
- All-Porcelain: Most natural-looking, excellent for front teeth
- Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal: Durable and aesthetic
- All-Metal: Strongest option, best for back teeth
- All-Ceramic: Excellent esthetics and strength
Crown Advantages
- Restores full tooth function
- Improves appearance significantly
- Protects weak tooth structure
- Lasts 10-15+ years with care
- Looks completely natural
- Affordable tooth restoration
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a restoration that replaces one or more consecutive missing teeth. The bridge is held in place by anchoring crowns on the healthy teeth on either side of the gap (called abutment teeth) or by dental implants.
How a Bridge Works
A bridge consists of artificial teeth (called pontics) that are fused between two porcelain crowns. The crowns are cemented to your healthy teeth or implants, securely anchoring the bridge in place. This restores the gap left by missing teeth and prevents your remaining teeth from shifting.
Benefits of Bridges
- Restores your natural smile appearance
- Maintains proper bite alignment
- Prevents teeth from shifting
- Preserves facial structure and profile
- Improves speech and chewing
- More affordable than multiple implants
- No surgery required
- Faster treatment timeline
- Natural-looking results
- Long-lasting restoration (10+ years)
Bridge Features
- Porcelain Material: Closely matches natural teeth color and resists staining, similar to veneers
- Secure Anchoring: Crowns on abutment teeth or implants hold the bridge firmly in place
- Cleanable Design: Bridges can be cleaned without removing them by using special floss under the pontics
- No Shifting: Unlike a removable partial denture, bridges don't shift when you eat or speak. For smaller cavities, inlays and onlays offer another restoration option.
Dentures
Complete or partial tooth replacement
Complete Dentures
A complete denture replaces all your teeth in either the upper or lower arch (or both). It consists of artificial teeth set in a pink acrylic base that covers your gums and palate.
Best for:
- Complete tooth loss
- Multiple missing teeth throughout the arch
- Patients who want a removable restoration
- When implants aren't suitable
Partial Dentures
A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth while leaving some natural teeth intact. It's supported by the remaining teeth and clasps that attach to them.
Best for:
- Multiple missing teeth in different areas
- Patients with some remaining natural teeth
- A removable, affordable option
- Patients adjusting before implants
Implant Overdentures
An implant overdenture is a removable denture that's supported and retained by dental implants. This combines the removability of a denture with the stability of implants.
Best for:
- Patients wanting removable dentures with better support
- Those who prefer easier cleaning
- Complete tooth loss with implant possibility
- Maximum comfort and function
Denture Care & Maintenance
Proper care ensures your dentures last longer, stay comfortable, and maintain their appearance:
Daily Care
- Remove and rinse dentures after eating to remove food debris
- Clean dentures daily with a soft denture brush and denture cleaner
- Never use regular toothpaste (too abrasive)
- Soak dentures overnight in a denture cleaning solution to keep them moist
- Always handle dentures over a soft surface (like a towel) to prevent breaking
Gum Care
- Remove dentures at night to allow your gums to rest
- Brush your remaining natural teeth and gums twice daily
- Massage your gums daily with a soft cloth
- Keep dentures clean to prevent gum irritation and infection
Adjustments & Repairs
- Visit us if your dentures become loose or uncomfortable
- Never try to adjust or repair dentures yourself
- Don't use strong adhesives or sealants without professional guidance
- Your gums change over time and may require denture relines
- Report any breakage or damage immediately for professional repair
The Crown Placement Process
Getting a crown typically requires two appointments. Here's what to expect:
Visit 1: Preparation & Impression
We prepare your tooth by removing decay and shaping it to accommodate the crown. An impression is taken of your tooth and the surrounding area. We then place a temporary crown to protect your tooth while your permanent crown is being made at the lab (usually 1-2 weeks).
Visit 2: Placement
Your temporary crown is removed, and we carefully place your custom permanent crown. We check your bite and make any necessary adjustments. Once everything is perfect, the crown is cemented in place permanently.
Restoration Options Compared
| Feature | Crown | Bridge | Denture | Implant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restores One Tooth | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Durability | 10-15 years | 10-15 years | 5-8 years | Lifetime |
| Natural Feel | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Requires Surgery | No | No | No | Yes |
| Removable | No | No | Yes | No |
| Cost | Moderate | Moderate | Low | High |
