Tooth fillings, crowns, & bridges in Bryn Mawr

What Are Fillings, Bridges, and Crowns for Teeth?

Tooth Fillings

A dentist uses a filling to repair a tooth with a cavity caused by tooth decay and return it to its natural appearance and function.

Tooth Crowns

Tooth crowns are a kind of prosthetic appliance dentists use to cover the top (or chewing surface) of teeth that are broken or chipped. Because crowns completely cover a tooth, they are also known as a dental caps.

Dental crowns are not removable like dentures, but rather attach to your teeth with high-bond cement. Therefore, only a dentist can remove them.

Tooth Bridges

Tooth bridges are another type of prosthetic appliance dentists use to replace a missing tooth or, more often, multiple missing teeth. They are composed of one or more synthetic teeth, known as pontic teeth the dentist attaches to either the healthy, natural teeth bordering them, or implants installed to serve that purpose.

Like crowns, bridges are not removable. Rather, they attach to natural teeth known as abutment teeth located on either side of the space left behind by the missing tooth or teeth.

Types of Tooth Fillings, Crowns, and Bridges

Many of the materials dentists use to make tooth fillings, crowns, and bridges are intended to appear as close as possible to your natural tooth color.

Our team at Bryn Mawr Dental Associates will assist you in determining the type of filling, crown, or bridge that suits your situation the best.

Dental Filling Types

Common materials for dental fillings include silver amalgam, porcelain, tooth-colored composite, and gold.

Tooth Crown Types

Common materials for tooth crowns include gold alloys, ceramic, and porcelain-fused-to-metal. Frequently, dentists will restore back teeth with gold crowns and front teeth with ceramic crowns.

Tooth Bridge Types

The two main types of bridges are traditional and cantilever. Which one your dentist uses will depend on whether both sides of the affected space have pontic teeth or not and where in the mouth the bridge will be placed.

Cost for Tooth Fillings, Dental Caps, and Bridges

How Much Does a Tooth Filling Cost?

Tooth fillings are customized devices and, as such, can vary considerably in tooth filling cost depending on a variety of factors. Not the least of these are the filling materials the dentist uses, how many teeth there are to fill, and where in the mouth the tooth or teeth are located.

How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost or Teeth Crown Cost?

Like the tooth filling cost, the dental crown cost and dental bridge cost depend on factors like the materials, severity, location, and complexity of the restoration and procedure.

The contribution that your dental insurance, if you have any, makes toward your tooth filling, crown or bridge will also influence your out-of-pocket cost for the procedure.

When you visit our Bryn Mawr dentist’s office, we’ll provide you with a full estimate of the cost for your tooth filling or bridge procedure or dental crown cost.

What to Expect During a Crown, Bridge, or Filling Procedure

Getting Crowns for Teeth

There are three main steps involved in getting crowns or dental caps. Following your initial exam and consultation, your dentist in Bryn Mawr will:

1. Prepare and shape the affected tooth as well as take a tooth impression, which is needed to fabricate the final, permanent crown
2. Place a temporary tooth crown you’ll wear until your next appointment
3. Cement the permanent tooth crown into place

Each step in the procedure takes about a half-hour to an hour.

What Occurs During the Dental Bridge Procedure?

To get a tooth bridge installed usually takes two visits.

At the first appointment, your Bryn Mawr removes a small bit of enamel from the abutment teeth to prepare them to secure the bridge and takes impressions of the teeth to serve as models for the new, permanent dental bridge. At the end of this visit, your dentist will give you a temporary bridge to wear while you wait for your permanent appliance to be built.

At your second appointment, your dentist will place your final, permanent bridge and adjust it for your maximum comfort.

What Happens in a Tooth Filling Procedure?

A tooth filling procedure typically takes a single visit to your Bryn Mawr dentist’s office. During the procedure, your dentist will apply a numbing gel to your gums. After it’s taken effect, your dentist will inject local anesthesia into your gum. Then, your dentist will use a specialized tool like a drill to remove the tooth’s decayed area before finally filling the hole with a tooth filling material.