Dental Crowns & Bridges – Belchertown, MA

Personalized, Lifelike Ways to Rebuild Your Smile

Do you have a tooth that is severely decayed, damaged, or even missing altogether? Worn-down or lost teeth take a toll not only on your oral health, but your overall health as well. For example, chewing is the first step in digestion and maintaining a healthy diet. Unfortunately, missing or damaged teeth can interfere with your ability to eat foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Then, there are the emotional and psychological considerations. People with incomplete smiles are often hesitant to fully join in social or professional gatherings because they are self-conscious.

Fortunately, Dr. Medaugh and his team at Valley Dentists of Belchertown have a solution: dental crowns and bridges. These restorations can help you enjoy the benefits of having a beautiful and complete smile once again.

What Are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown is a thin tooth-shaped covering that is custom-made to fit over a weak, damaged, worn-down, or decayed tooth. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, depending on the location of the tooth, your budget, and your personal preference. Porcelain is a popular option due to its ability to mimic natural tooth enamel.

Getting a dental crown takes two visits to our office. First, the tooth will be reshaped to accommodate the crown, and we’ll place a temporary to protect your tooth. After the permanent crown has been manufactured in a dental lab, you’ll return to our office and we’ll cement it into place.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns offer several major advantages, including:

• They relieve the discomfort of chewing with a damaged tooth.
• Your tooth will be protected from further damage that might have required it to be extracted down the road.
• Each crown is custom-made to look and feel natural.
• Your crown can last for more than a decade as long as you practice good oral hygiene.

What Are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth in a row. A crown is placed on both teeth surrounding the gap, with one or more replacement teeth called pontics suspended in between them. Because bridges are fixed restorations, only a dentist can remove it.

Similar to crowns, bridges can be made from a variety of materials to suit your needs. They also require two appointments: one to prepare your teeth, and another to place your final restoration.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

Some of the primary benefits of dental bridges are:

• If they’re made of porcelain, they’ll completely blend in with the rest of your smile.
• With proper maintenance, a bridge can last for 10+ years.
• Bridges prevent your remaining pearly whites from drifting out of place.
• They’re sturdy enough to stand up to practically any food.

Call Valley Dentists of Belchertown today. We would be happy to assist you with scheduling a visit or simply answering a question. Our office serves patients from Belchertown, Ware, Granby, Ludlow, Warren, Hardwick, Gilbertville, Hadley, Amherst, Palmer, and all surrounding communities.