A dental crown, or cap, is a type of restoration that can be used for a number of purposes. One of the most common uses of a dental crown is to restore a tooth that is significantly damaged or decayed. The crown is custom-made to fit over the entire tooth, starting at the gumline, in order to restore the tooth to its original shape and size.

Dental crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal; porcelain crowns are popular because they match the natural color and appearance of your teeth. Our dentists at Smile Advanced Dental Center will help you determine which type of dental crown is right for your smile.

Your smile may benefit from a crown if a tooth is damaged or decayed to the point that a dental filling will not provide a successful restoration. Crowns can also be used for other restorative and aesthetic purposes, including:

• Protect a tooth following root canal treatment
• Anchor and attach a dental bridge
• Cover and complete a dental implant
• Enhance the beauty of your smile
• Improve a misshapen tooth
• Strengthen a tooth that is fractured or weak
• Support a large filling when little natural tooth structure remains

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are used to repair damage or decay. If the damage is not extensive enough to warrant the use of a dental crown, but is too serious to be repaired with a filling, a dental inlay or onlay may be recommended.

Also known as partial crowns, inlays and onlays are custom-created from porcelain, composite resin material, or gold.

Both inlays and onlays are used to restore damaged teeth. The difference between them is that an inlay is used when the damage does not reach the cusps of the tooth, while a dental onlay is used when the damage extends to one or more of the cusps.

At Smile Advanced Dental Center, our dentists will ensure that your custom inlay or onlay perfectly fits your tooth to restore the health, function and appearance of your smile. Once placed, they are virtually undetectable in the mouth and conserve much of your natural tooth structure.

A missing tooth can keep you from smiling, but it can also keep you from speaking clearly and chewing your food properly. If you have been living with one missing tooth, or two or more in a row, our dentists at Smile Advanced Dental Center can help.

If you are missing a single tooth or multiple teeth in a row, we may recommend a dental bridge to restore your smile. A bridge is a fixed dental restoration, meaning it is non-removable. The dental bridge is anchored in place through the use of two dental crowns, which are custom-made to fit your smile and are placed on the teeth or dental implants next to the space left by the missing tooth. These crowns hold the artificial tooth in place to restore your smile, ensuring that your restoration will not easily shift or come loose. It typically requires only two visits to our practice in Summerville, SC to complete a dental bridge. Dental bridges are designed to last for many years and to restore the function, beauty, and health of your smile.

A dental bridge has multiple benefits:

• Restores your ability to speak, eat, and chew normally
• Alleviates excess stress on the bite
• Improves the shape and volume of your face
• Replaces an unwanted removable partial denture
• Prevents the remaining natural teeth from moving out of position
• Enhances the appearance of your smile

We will help you determine whether a custom dental bridge is the right choice for restoring your smile after tooth loss. For more information, call us at 843-873-1261 for an appointment.