CROWNS AND BRIDGES
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When one or more teeth have a large old filling, are fractured, severely
damaged by decay, or missing, we may recommend the placement of a
crown (cap) or a bridge. A crown strengthens, restores and protects
a single tooth while a bridge replaces one or more missing teeth.
Crowns and bridges are anchored using a special adhesive and are not
removable.
Dr. Olson may recommend either gold or porcelain crowns or bridges.
Both types offer unique advantages.
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PORCELAIN CROWNS AND BRIDGES
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Porcelain crowns and bridges typically require four or more steps.
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STEP ONE
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Dr. Olson prepares your teeth by removing any existing restorations
and decay followed by careful shaping of the remaining tooth structure.
Next, he fabricates and seats provisional tooth-colored restorations
over your prepared teeth to protect them while the crowns or bridges
are being completed. Provisional restorations provide a natural appearance,
preserve proper chewing and speech function, and maintain the position
of the prepared teeth.
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STEP TWO
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Next, Dr. Olson makes accurate impressions
of your teeth to produce stone models upon which the crowns and
bridges will be fabricated in the laboratory. The stone models are
mounted in a dental articulator to record and duplicate jaw movements.
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STEP THREE
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Using these stone models, castings are
made in the laboratory. Castings are gold alloy substructures upon
which the porcelain will later be fused.
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STEP FOUR
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At your second appointment appointment, Dr. Olson temporarily removes
your provisional restorations and uses a special disclosing medium
to adjust the castings for an accurate fit. This is critical to the
long-term success of your restorations. |
STEP FIVE
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In his onsite laboratory, Dr. Olson reduces the castings to achieve
optimum thinness. This important step allows more room for porcelain,
and thereby helps achieve a more natural tooth color without increasing
the overall thickness beyond that of a natural tooth.
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STEP SIX
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Your third appointment is a bisque try-in. The term bisque refers
to the porcelain in its fired, but unglazed, state. At this visit
your provisional restorations are removed and the bisque restorations
are placed over your prepared teeth. They are checked and adjusted
for correct size, contour and bite. The restorations' color is carefully
matched to your surrounding teeth and specifications are made for
the final shading and glazing in the laboratory.
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STEP SEVEN
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Your fourth appointment is a glazed try-in.
The color and contour of your glazed restorations are carefully
evaluated. If adjustments are needed, we can generally make them
during this appointment. Treatment is complete after your new restorations
are seated using a special adhesive.
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GOLD RESTORATIONS
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Gold restorations can usually be completed in two appointments.
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STEP ONE
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At your first appointment, Dr. Olson prepares your teeth, makes impressions,
and fabricates provisional restorations to protect your prepared teeth
until the cast gold restorations are completed.
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STEP TWO
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Your second appointment is a cast gold try-in. At this appointment
Dr. Olson removes your provisional restorations and uses a disclosing
medium to adjust the crowns for an accurate fit. Your restorations
are then checked and adjusted for proper bite and relationship to
surrounding teeth. Treatment is complete after your new restorations
are seated using a special adhesive.
Long-term success with your crowns and bridges depends on the technical
excellence of the restoration as well as a combination of a healthy
lifestyle, daily home-care, and periodic professional maintenance.
During your appointments we will show you how to protect your investment
by properly caring for your restorations. |