How can we help you?
Prosthodontist Dr. John Chen and the staff at Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics understand the importance of patient education. Good oral care is essential for one’s overall health. We know that the more knowledge our patients have about dental care, the better their oral health will likely be.
At our office, we tend to hear a lot of the same questions from our patients. For your convenience, we have included some of the more popular ones below.
You may have a question that is not on the list, and if so, we invite you to give us a call. We are happy to go over anything with you that will contribute to your good oral health. We know that educated patients make the best decisions about dental treatment, and we want you to feel confident about any recommended procedures. All of our staff is happy to take whatever time is needed to ensure you fully understand treatment options and maintain good oral health.
At Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics, we are your partner in oral health. We look forward to caring for you as well as your entire family!
Crowns and Bridges
Depending on the severity of the break, yes.
Chipped teeth and broken teeth are common dental emergencies in Aurora, CO, and many of these injuries require immediate attention and care.
If you break a tooth and can find the broken or chipped pieces, it’s a good idea to gently pick them up, place them in a clean bag or container, and bring them with you to your emergency visit. Our emergency dentist can often repair a broken tooth using dental bonding or a filling, and it’s sometimes helpful to have the original pieces of the tooth on hand.
Substantial tooth breaks are usually painful, so if you’ve cracked your tooth or broken a large piece of it away from your smile, you can expect the area to be sensitive. If you schedule an emergency dental appointment with us, our first goal when treating you will be to get you out of pain.
Sometimes, however, minor tooth chips are not dental emergencies. You can break a tiny piece of your tooth without even realizing it, or you may sustain a chip that is painless, small, and can wait until the next business day for treatment.
For example, it’s common to chip a tooth while taking a sip of water and bumping your tooth on your glass—but if you’re not in pain and don’t want to travel to our dental office right away, we can schedule a non-emergent visit with our 80016 dentist.
In most cases, yes.
If a porcelain crown or onlay is the right restoration for you, it is possible to have your crown done the same day. This may save you an extra trip to the dentist, but we will still need at least two and a half hours of your time. Please let our front office know before scheduling for a same-day crown so that time is set aside to complete your procedure.
Same-Day Crowns
At our office, we are happy to offer our patients E4D technology, which makes getting a crown easier and more convenient than ever. The E4D crown is made in-office and looks completely natural.
One of the things about the E4D crown that patients appreciate the most is that not only are the crowns made with just one trip to the dentist, but patients can get a crown without the uncomfortable goopy impressions needed for traditional dental crowns. Instead, Dr. Chen will make an optical impression of your tooth using a digital camera. Your crown is digitally designed with the E4D's three-dimensional software.
Dental Crowns in Arvada
Once the crown is designed, the data is sent to the onsite milling unit where the restoration is fabricated in minutes. Please call us with any more questions you might have.
Enjoying the full functional and aesthetic benefits that dental crowns and bridges can provide begins with proper, meticulous placement. Here's a brief overview of the process by which each of these solutions is placed in a patient’s mouth:
The process of placing a dental crown
After preparing the tooth by removing damaged portions, your dentist will take impressions of the remaining tooth so that a crown can be custom-made. These impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory, where the crown is custom-crafted. Once the personalized crown is ready (usually a week or two), your dentist securely bonds it to the tooth using dental cement. Once the crown is confirmed to be properly placed, the cement is allowed to dry, and function and aesthetics are restored!
Installing dental bridges
The first step in creating a dental bridge is preparing the adjacent teeth to support the new prosthetic. As with crowns, impressions are taken to aid in custom-crafting a bridge that fits seamlessly into the gap in a patient’s mouth. Once the bridge is ready, it is securely affixed, or “anchored” to the prepared adjacent teeth.
Perfectly placed dental crowns and bridges in Aurora, CO
If you're in Aurora and looking for a dental practice with the experience and expertise to ensure that your teeth are properly prepared for dental prosthetics and that those prosthetics are meticulously the first time, every time, contact dentist Dr. John Chen and the Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry & Prosthodontics team to schedule a consultation!
If you have a crown, you know that your dentist recommended it to protect a decayed or broken tooth from further damage. But at our Aurora dental office, we also use crowns along with other dental restorations to replace missing teeth.
The first is where we use a dental implant to replace a single missing tooth. Dr. Chen places an artificial titanium tooth root in your jaw, and as it heals, it fuses with the bone and tissue around it. Now that you have a new root, Dr. Chen adds a dental crown to give you a completely new tooth that completes your smile and allows you to chew comfortably again.
The second way we use crowns to replace missing teeth in Aurora is to anchor a dental bridge in place. Dr. Chen customizes an artificial tooth called a pontic that matches your smile and sits in the space left by the missing tooth. The pontic is held securely in place by a dental crown on either side that is anchored to adjacent teeth for support.
If you need to replace missing teeth, we also offer full and partial dentures and implant-supported dentures in addition to dental implants and bridges. Call our Aurora, CO dental office to schedule an appointment so we can find the solution that best fits your needs.
When considering dental prosthetics, a solution’s durability and longevity sit alongside aesthetics as key determinants. Let’s look at dental crowns and bridges to better understand each restorative solution’s durability.
The Longevity of Dental Crowns
Crafted from materials like porcelain or ceramic, dental crowns boast impressive durability. With proper care, including proper oral hygiene practices and regular dental checkups, crowns can be expected to last for a decade or more. It’s worth noting, however, that an individual’s oral health, lifestyle habits, and location in the mouth can influence a crown’s lifespan.
The Endurance of Dental Bridges
As with crowns, the lifespan of dental bridges relies on materials and maintenance. With proper care and maintenance, bridges typically last between 5 to 15 years. Routine dental visits and a commitment to oral health can play a big role in maximizing the lifespan of a dental bridge.
Whether you’re opting for a dental crown or a bridge, it’s vital to understand a dental prosthetic’s expected lifespan and the steps you can take to maximize its radiance and ensure a healthy and confidence-inspiring for years to come!
Dental Crowns and Bridges in Aurora, CO
If you're in Aurora and looking for a dental practice with the experience and expertise to meet all of your cosmetic and restorative dentistry needs, including the placement of dental crowns and bridges, contact dentist Dr. John Chen and the Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry & Prosthodontics team to schedule a consultation!
A dental bridge is an excellent choice for tooth replacement. It restores your ability to eat and smile without concern. As a result, you’ll enjoy a more varied diet and easy laughter. Tooth replacement, including the dental bridge in Aurora, CO, also promotes better oral health by preventing tooth migration and bite misalignment.
A dental bridge consists of one or two artificial teeth cemented between dental crowns. The crowns fit over prepared teeth on either side of your smile gap, suspending the artificial teeth into the space. Your dentist customizes your bridge and crowns to look like your remaining teeth. Alternatively, your dentist may recommend a dental implant to secure your bridge.
As far as longevity, a dental bridge can last up to ten years or longer. To increase bridge longevity, we recommend visiting the dentist regularly and practicing excellent oral hygiene. You should also talk to your dentist if you suspect bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding).
Of course, it’s important to learn whether you’re suitable for this type of tooth replacement. Your dentist can make this determination and answer all your questions at a tooth replacement consultation.
To Learn More about the Dental Bridge, Contact Your Aurora, CO, Dentist
If you’re ready to restore your smile or have questions for our dentist, call us today.
Dental crowns and bridges are two of the most popular and highly regarded long-term dental restorations. Each of these solutions plays a vital role in helping individuals who’ve suffered from tooth loss preserve their oral health and restore smile aesthetics.
Dental crowns also referred to as "caps," are custom-fitted covers, typically made of materials like porcelain, ceramic, or metal, that encase damaged or weakened teeth to restore their strength, shape, and natural look. Crowns can also sit atop dental implants and restore the form, function, and aesthetics of a patient’s bite and smile.
Dental bridges are dental prosthetic devices comprised of artificial teeth (usually made of ceramic) that, as their name suggests, “bridge the gap” created in a person’s mouth by tooth loss. Bridges are typically anchored to adjacent remaining natural teeth or dental implants in a patient’s mouth. Dental bridges restore bite function, and smile aesthetics, and help maintain facial structure. They also prevent surrounding teeth from shifting.
Both crowns and bridges are designed to match the size, color, and shape of natural teeth, ensuring seamless integration, enhanced oral functionality, and a renewed sense of confidence.
Dental Crowns and Bridges in Aurora, CO
If you're in Aurora and looking for a dental practice with the experience and expertise to meet all of your cosmetic and restorative dentistry needs, including the placement of dental crowns and bridges, contact dentist Dr. John Chen and the Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry & Prosthodontics team to schedule a consultation!
Navigating the world of dental restorations can sometimes feel a bit daunting. Properly understanding the options available to you can make all the difference in restoring the integrity of your bite and the aesthetics of your smile. We’re looking here at dental crowns and bridges and the various types of each that are available to meet anyone’s dental restoration needs:
Types of Dental Crowns
Porcelain – known for its natural translucency that precisely replicates the appearance of natural teeth
Metal – crafted from durable alloys like gold or silver for durability and longevity
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) – a versatile solution that balances strength and aesthetics
Types of Dental Bridges
Traditional – artificial teeth that are stably anchored between existing natural teeth using dental cement
Maryland – when traditional anchors aren't suitable, Maryland bridges are held in place by wings bonded to adjacent teeth
Implant-supported – dental bridges that are attached to dental implants; excellent for providing stability and preserving jawbone density
Explore Your Dental Crown and Bridge Options in Aurora, CO
If you're in Aurora and looking for a dentist with a track record and expertise in the successful placement of all types of dental crowns and bridges, contact dentist Dr. John Chen and the Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry & Prosthodontics team to schedule a consultation!
A dental bridge in Aurora, CO, is a fixed tooth replacement option that restores function and aesthetics to your smile. It has long been a patient favorite because it is an attached prosthetic that never needs adhesives or relines like removable dentures.
A dental bridge is a tooth or teeth situated between crowns. Your dentist caps healthy teeth with dental crowns, and the prosthetic teeth fill your smile gap. Your dentist may recommend a dental implant to better secure this restoration. The bridge teeth and crowns are customized to blend seamlessly with your smile.
With your dental bridge, you can smile confidently and enjoy a more diverse diet. You’ll also protect your oral health by preventing tooth migration—the habit of remaining teeth shifting into smile gaps over time.
The first step is learning whether you’re suitable for crowns and bridges in Aurora. At your initial visit, we provide a thorough evaluation to ensure that this method will work for your tooth replacement. Then, if you move forward with a dental bridge, your dentist will talk to you about what to expect and how to care for your dental bridge.
For Crowns and Bridges, Contact Your Aurora, CO Dentist
If you would like to arrange your tooth replacement evaluation or if you have questions for our team, give us a call today. We look forward to helping you restore your smile.
There is no shortage of obstacles in the quest for a bright, radiant smile. Fortunately, dental crowns and bridges offer invaluable solutions when something stands in the way of you and the smile of your dreams.
Let's take a look at scenarios in which each of these dental marvels thrives:
When Should You Choose Dental Crowns?
- To restore damaged teeth – Dental crowns shield weakened or cracked teeth and protect them from further damage.
- After a root canal – Crowns can be vital in strengthening a post-root canal tooth and ensuring its long-term functionality.
- Cosmetic enhancements – Crowns conceal discolored or misshapen teeth to restore the aesthetic appeal of a person’s smile.
When Are Dental Bridges the Right Call?
- To fill in gaps between teeth – Properly placed dental bridges seamlessly fill gaps between teeth, whether natural or caused by tooth loss.
- To preserve dental alignment – Bridges help maintain natural alignment by preventing shifting among remaining teeth.
- To enhance biting and chewing function – Replacing missing teeth with bridges restores proper biting and chewing ability.
Top-Quality Dental Crowns and Bridges in Aurora, CO
If you're in Aurora and looking for a dentist to guide you through the entirety of the restorative dentistry process, from deciding between dental bridges and crowns to placement to aftercare and maintenance, the team at Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry & Prosthodontics to schedule a consultation!