Wondering how dental crowns and bridges improve smiles?

While no one wants to think about it, there are situations in which teeth may become damaged or need to be extracted. These are problems that are all too common. Our Westland, MI, dentists are here to restore your smile when you’re faced with issues such as cracked or missing teeth. Restorative dentistry can improve your oral health and your appearance.

What is a crown?

This tooth-shaped restoration is made to fit over a tooth to provide a protective barrier around the tooth. As you might imagine, this protective barrier ensures that the natural tooth underneath doesn’t become damaged any further. A crown can protect severely decayed, injured, and weak teeth and preserve what’s left of the tooth, so you don’t need an extraction later on in life.

When is a dental crown placed?

There are many scenarios in which our Westland, MI, general dentist will recommend a crown. Crowns are typically placed to:

  • Correct and improve a malformed, misshapen or discolored tooth
  • Strengthen a weak tooth
  • Restore chewing and biting
  • Protect teeth from further injury and damage
  • Cover a dental implant
  • Secure a fixed dental bridge in place

What is a bridge?

This dental prosthetic is custom-made to fill gaps in your smile with false teeth. If you choose to get a fixed dental bridge, we will need to use dental crowns to hold the bridge permanently in place. Otherwise, a removable dental bridge will contain clasps that will hook around natural teeth to secure them in place. The type of bridge that’s right for you will depend on a variety of factors including your oral health and whether your natural teeth are strong enough to support a bridge.

Why might I need a dental bridge?

Are you missing one or more teeth in a row? If so, then a dental bridge may be a quick, reliable way to restore missing teeth without the need for surgery. It usually takes 2-3 visits to get your dental bridge placed, and this dental device is made just for you. If you are missing teeth, we offer a wide range of tooth replacement options including bridges. We’d be happy to sit down and discuss your options with you.

When dental issues happen to you, our Westland, MI, family dentists can restore your smile. If you have questions about dental crowns and bridges, call Carey & Aylward Family Dentistry at (734) 425-9130 to schedule a consultation.


Westland, MI Dentist Carey & Aylward, DDS, PC
32540 Warren Road Westland, MI 48185 (734) 425-9130 Dentist in Westland, MI Call For Pricing Options