A cracked, heavily filled, or root-canal-treated tooth often needs more structural support than a filling can provide — our Dental Crowns And Bridges process starts with a digital impression so the fit is right the first time.
Every Smile Center Dentistry office offering Dental Crowns And Bridges is held to the same four standards, verified before the office ever joins our network.
A digital scanner captures the exact shape needed for your crown or bridge, replacing the old putty-tray impression.
Zirconia, e.max, and porcelain-fused-to-metal each have different strength, appearance, and cost tradeoffs — we'll walk through them clearly.
We'll assess whether your tooth has enough natural structure remaining or needs reinforcement first.
If a crown or bridge doesn't fit right, adjustment is covered within the warranty period at no extra charge.
Every option below is available under the same upfront-pricing standard, whichever specific service ends up fitting your case.
Zirconia is highly durable and well-suited for back teeth that handle heavy chewing forces. This tends to be our go-to recommendation for molars and premolars.
It's slightly less impact-resistant than zirconia, which factors into where we recommend using it. Most patients choose e.max specifically for how natural it looks next to surrounding teeth.
PFM crowns combine a metal substructure with a porcelain outer layer, offering a proven, durable option at a lower cost than all-ceramic choices. PFM has decades of clinical track record behind it.
A fixed bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. Bridges are typically completed in two visits with a temporary in between.
When a tooth has lost significant structure — often after a root canal — a buildup provides a stable base for the crown. The buildup is usually completed at the same visit as crown preparation.
A cracked crown, loose bridge, or worn restoration is assessed to determine whether repair or full replacement makes more sense. Replacement is recommended when the underlying tooth or fit has changed significantly.
Here's exactly what to expect, start to finish, for Dental Crowns And Bridges at any of our affiliated offices.
Describe the damaged tooth or gap and we'll schedule an exam and X-ray, often within the same week.
We scan the tooth digitally and walk through material options — zirconia, e.max, or PFM — based on your case.
You'll see the full cost before starting, and a temporary crown or bridge protects the tooth while the permanent piece is made.
We confirm fit and appearance before considering the case complete.
These are unedited, from patients who've actually been through Dental Crowns And Bridges treatment with us in the past year.
“They walked me through zirconia versus e.max for my case and I ended up choosing based on which tooth was actually visible when I smile.”
“Digital impression meant no more gagging on that awful putty tray from my last dentist. Fit was perfect on the first try too.”
“My old bridge was failing and they gave me an honest comparison between repairing it and just replacing it outright.”
“Post-and-core buildup after my root canal made sense once they showed me the X-ray. Crown has held up great since.”
“PFM crown on a back molar was the practical, affordable choice and they didn't push the pricier options on me.”
Straight answers to what people actually want to know before committing to Dental Crowns And Bridges.
We'll recommend based on which tooth is involved and your priorities between strength, appearance, and cost.
With good care, crowns and bridges typically last ten to fifteen years, sometimes longer depending on material and bite forces.
Only if the tooth has lost significant structure, often after a root canal — we'll assess and show you the reasoning.
It depends on the health of the neighboring teeth and your long-term goals — we'll compare both options honestly.
Sometimes — we'll assess whether a repair will realistically hold up before recommending it over full replacement.
Most cases take two visits, with a temporary restoration protecting the tooth in between.
We can usually confirm same-week availability for Dental Crowns And Bridges before you even finish describing your situation.
Our Dental Crowns And Bridges team serves Santa Ana Pueblo and the surrounding area, with digital impression technology available in-office for a precise, comfortable fit. If you're comparing a bridge to an implant, the assessment visit is the right place to ask both questions.
