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Crowns & Bridges

Crowns and bridges are restorations that correct dental problems while protecting and strengthening your teeth.

A dental crown is custom made to fit over a damaged natural tooth. It restores the function of the tooth and provides strength and support. Dental bridges fill in the space left by a missing tooth to complete your smile.

Everyone wants a smile that is healthy and beautiful, and we may be able to help you reach that goal using crowns and bridges. Updated techniques and treatments have made the placing of crowns and bridges easier than ever before.

When Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Used?

Dental crowns have many applications and can be used to correct a number of problems, including:

Severely decayed teeth
Teeth weakened by root canal treatment
Fractured or broken teeth
Broken fillings
Large, unattractive fillings

A dental bridge is used to fill the space left by a missing tooth. The bridge is usually made as a single unit that is held in place by crowns on adjacent teeth. A dental bridge not only improves your appearance but also prevents surrounding teeth from shifting out of place and moving into the space left by a missing tooth.

What Does Placing a Crown or Bridge Involve?

A dental crown or bridge can usually be placed in two or three visits. First, we prepare your natural tooth to receive the restoration, and then impressions are taken of your teeth. The impression accurately represents the position of your natural teeth so that your restoration fits perfectly.

The impressions are sent to a special dental lab and are used to create your permanent restoration, which usually takes about two weeks. Before you leave our office, we fit you with a temporary bridge or crown that you wear while the new crown or bridge is being prepared.

Once the restoration is finished, we will schedule an appointment for you to return to our office. At that time, we check the finished restoration for proper fit, making adjustments as necessary. Finally, the restoration is cemented permanently into place.

Before you leave our office, we will give you instructions on caring for your new restoration. The restoration is fully functional, but you should remember that it requires special care to prevent damage and the need for replacement. If you follow proper oral hygiene and schedule regular dental cleanings, your new restoration will last for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a crown?

Crowns are full coverage restorations of teeth, and different from a filling.

Four most common reasons we recommend a crown:

Broken tooth: If you break a tooth, sometimes you are fortunate enough we might recommend only a crown. Other times when teeth break it may be deep enough you may need a root canal before a restoration or the tooth cannot be restored and needs extracted. Crowns are much stronger than a conventional filling and are often recommended on teeth that are at risk for fracture as well (example: large fillings or a patient who grinds)
Large filling: If your tooth has a large filling, we may recommend you consider a crown to preserve your tooth over time. More and more tooth structure needs to be removed every time you get a cavity in order to properly restore your tooth with a traditional filling. If there is very little natural tooth structure left, the filling will not bond to the tooth and will fail. Crowns are much stronger than a very large filling.
After a root canal procedure: If you have had a root canal, we like to place a permanent restoration after that procedure. Options can vary, but a crown is a common restoration we will suggest to provide strength to the tooth.
Aesthetic purposes: In the event your teeth are misshapen, discolored, or aesthetically unpleasing, we may recommended crowns or veneers to help achieve a pleasing, aesthetic smile. These types of procedures are usually cosmetic and not covered by dental benefit plans.

Meet Our Doctor:

Jessica L. Vogel DDS

Dr. Jessica Vogel earned her Bachelor of Science from Indiana University Bloomington and completed her degree in dental surgery at the Indiana School of Dentistry.

Dr. Vogel is a member of the Rush County Community Foundation Grant Committee and Scholarship Committee, Rushville Achievers 4-H Leader, Rush County Swine Superintendent, and member of Center Christian Church in Knightstown.

"I went into this profession because I love smiles and I love people. I enjoy educating patients and helping them determine the best options for their oral health.

It is very fulfilling to be able to provide ...

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