Whether you've lost a tooth or are concerned about a damaged or unattractive tooth, dental crowns and bridges can help restore your 
smile. Dr. Clark Wright, your Venice, FL dentist, explains how you can benefit from these dental restorations.
Crowns strengthen and improve the appearance of teeth
Have you ever bitten into a piece of food and cracked your tooth? If you don't take care of that crack, you're more likely to break the tooth the next time you eat an apple or other type of hard food. A crown from your Venice dentist provides a simple way to strengthen your tooth and prevent if from breaking. If the tooth has already broken, a crown will protect and restore it. Crowns are often recommended after you've had a large filling or root canal procedure, as these treatments can weaken teeth.
They're also a good choice if you want to conceal a cosmetic issue, such as an unusually shaped tooth, a short tooth, chips or discolorations. Crowns slip over your teeth and cover them completely. They're made with a variety of materials, including porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin, ceramic, nickel and gold.
Bridges replace missing teeth
You may be tempted to ignore the gap in your smile, particularly if you lost a tooth at the back of your mouth. Unfortunately, failing to replace a missing tooth can cause your other teeth to drift and become crooked. When this occurs, your appearance not only suffers, but you may also be more likely to develop cavities because it's much harder to remove plaque from teeth when they overlap.
You may also notice that it's hard to bite and chew when a tooth is missing. If you've lost several teeth, you may not be able to chew your food thoroughly, which can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Bridges effectively replace missing teeth and help you avoid these issues. Bridges consist of one or more artificial teeth, called pontics, that are connected to crowns on either side. They're usually made of porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal because these materials are very strong and durable.
Could you benefit from crowns and bridges? Call Dr. Wright, your Venice, FL dentist, at (941) 493-5923 to learn if these restorations are a good option for you. Improve your smile with crowns and bridges!