Tooth Fillings, Crowns, & Bridges in Delray Beach

Tooth Bridges

When your mouth has a natural tooth or teeth missing, a tooth bridge can fill the space left behind with an artificial tooth or teeth. Typically, tooth bridges are made of crowns for teeth, aka dental caps, cemented in place on each side of the space where the missing teeth once were and the false, or pontic, tooth or teeth replacing them.

Tooth bridges can restore the function and appearance of your teeth by bridging the space between thre teeth you are missing. Call our office to talk with a Delray Beach dentist to find out if dental bridges are right for you.

You may need a tooth bridge if you have a tooth or teeth missing. The most prevalent causes of these are injury, gum disease, and tooth decay. Alternatively, you may have a congenital condition that caused you to have teeth missing since birth.

The typical dental bridge has two parts:

• Abutment teeth – Two crowns or dental caps placed on the teeth bordering the gap, whether these supporting, or anchoring, teeth are natural or implants
• Pontics – One or more artificial teeth that fill the space where the missing teeth once were and attach to those tooth crowns

Two of the main types of dental bridges are:

• Traditional, or fixed, bridges – The most common type of bridge, these have two or more crowns for teeth connected to one or more filling teeth; the crowns secure the bridge in position.
• Cantilever bridge - In this bridge type, the pontic connects to only one abutment tooth; this can sometimes be an option for people who have teeth on only one side of the gap.

Bridges are usually built from ceramic, metal or porcelain fused to metal. Your dental bridge cost will depend greatly on the material you choose.

Tooth Fillings

One of the most common dentistry procedures, dental fillings are treatments for one or more decayed and/or damaged teeth to bring them back to their regular look and function and prevent any more damage or decay.

If you decide to get a tooth filling, you have a range of materials to choose from, including:

• Silver amalgam
• Composite
• Glass ionomer
• Gold inlays and onlays
• Porcelain inlays

Certain of these are tooth-colored, namely composite fillings, glass ionomer fillings and porcelain inlays.

The kind of dental filling that’s right for your needs will vary based on the specifics of those needs, such as how extensive is the repair and restoration required, the cavity’s location, whether you have allergies to any tooth filling materials and the tooth filling cost.

To determine whether or not you need a tooth filling, your dentist in Delray Beach will examine your teeth’s surfaces using a small mirror. If, during this examination, your dentist notices any abnormalities, like discolorations, temperature sensitivities or defectiveness, your dentist will use other dentistry methods to examine the area more closely, such as X-rays. Which type of treatment your dentist then recommends will be based on how extensive the damage is and the kind of tooth filling you select.

When you come to our Delray Beach dental office to get a tooth filled, your dentist may initially give you local anesthesia to numb the affected area. Your dentist will then cut through your tooth enamel and take out the decayed matter using a drill or other dentistry tool. Next, your dentist will prepare the space for the filling material by thoroughly cleaning and delicately shaping it. At this time, the dentist may also place a liner or base to protect the nerves in the pulp of the tooth.

Cost of Dental Fillings, Bridges and Crowns

Whether it’s a tooth filling cost, dental crown cost or dental filling cost you’re talking about, the same general factors apply:

• How many teeth are involved in the restoration?
• Where in the mouth are those teeth located and how difficult are they to reach?
• What materials have you chosen for your restoration?
• How much of the procedure will your dental insurance plan pay for?

To figure out how much you’ll have to pay to get a tooth crown, filling, or bridge, contact us anytime during normal business hours. We’ll even help you determine whether your insurance plan may cover any portion of the dental crown cost, dental bridge cost, or dental filling cost.

If you think you may need a tooth crown, filling, or bridge to fix one or more damaged or decayed teeth in your mouth, contact us at Advanced Dentistry South Florida today. We’ll put you in touch with a qualified Delray Beach dentist who can help you figure out and implement the right restoration for you.