Dental crowns and bridges can repair teeth or fill in gaps left by tooth loss so your smile looks beautiful and functions well.

Older man and woman smiling | Dentist Chesterfield MO

Crowns and Bridges in Chesterfield, MO

5 crowns laying on a white surface When you have a tooth that is damaged or missing, it’s important to make the proper repairs. Both can impact your ability to chew and speak properly. The look of your smile can also be affected. Missing teeth need to be replaced to protect your remaining healthy teeth.

At Clarkson Dental Group, Dr. Scott Mahlin can restore your smile with crowns and bridges. A dental crown will strengthen a damaged tooth, and a dental bridge will fill in the space left by missing teeth and keep your remaining teeth from shifting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do dental crowns last?

Crowns typically last anywhere between five and fifteen years, and sometimes even longer. The determining factors associated with a crown’s longevity largely depend on the care of the crown and your daily oral hygiene habits. Routine home and professional dental care are highly effective and will ensure that your crown lasts for several years.

Though dental crowns are durable, they can still get damaged just like your natural teeth can. If your diet includes sugary or sticky foods, your crown's longevity will be greatly reduced. Additionally, grinding or clenching your teeth will place extra stress on the crown, which can cause it to break beyond repair. If your crown breaks, the damaged crown must be replaced with a new one.

With proper oral care and a healthy diet, your new crowns can give you years of beautiful smiles.

At Clarkson Dental Group, we utilize state-of-the-art techniques and materials to provide our patients with durable, realistic dental crowns. Dr. Scott Mahlin and our skilled team at Clarkson Dental Group will guide you with the appropriate wear and care instructions for your new dental crown. We strive to provide each of our patients with the knowledge, resources, and support to achieve optimum oral health.

To learn more about crowns and how our team can help restore your smile, please call our Chesterfield, MO dental office at (636) 537-0065.

How soon after I get my implant can I get a crown?

We begin the creation of your custom crown within 4 months of having your implant placed and full healing of the dental implant is observed.

What is the difference between crowns and bridges?

Crowns are indicated for the protection and maintenance a single damaged or injured tooth. This allows the patient to retain their tooth. In instances where a natural tooth is missing, a bridge allows us to replace the missing tooth with a fixed solution (i.e. cannot be removed).

I have older crowns that don’t look very esthetic and I don’t like them. Can I change the crowns to look better?

Yes. The older materials used to create crowns offered very limited esthetic and strength options. Unfortunately, this created an obvious difference in the smile when attempting to blend the crown(s) with the natural teeth. Advancements in the crown materials utilized to match your natural teeth have improved dramatically. Our goal is to shade match your teeth and crowns so they will appear incredibly lifelike and natural.

Will people be able to notice if I have a crown?

If you’ve had a damaged tooth or have been without a tooth for a while, your family and friends may notice that your smile has improved. However, they’ll be unable to determine exactly what has changed.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is also referred to as a tooth cap because of the way it sits on top of a prepared tooth much like a hat. Dental crowns can restore a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted. Dental crowns are custom-made to blend in with your other teeth for a completely natural look.

Reasons You Might Need a Dental Crown

Dr. Mahlin will often recommend a dental crown if you are dealing with any of the following dental issues:

Broken or fractured teeth
Teeth with too much decay for a filling
Fillings that have begun to fracture and cannot be replaced
After a root canal
Cosmetic enhancement to cover up a stained or flawed tooth
Replacement of older, unesthetic dental crowns

The Dental Crown Procedure

Getting a dental crown usually takes place over two appointments at our Chesterfield, MO dental clinic. At the first appointment, we will take impressions that will be used to create your custom crown. At the same time, we will give you a temporary crown that will stay in place for about two weeks.

At your second appointment, we’ll remove the temporary crown, clean the tooth, and place your new, custom dental crown. We’ll make sure you can bite down comfortably before cementing it into place permanently.

If you take good care of your oral health, you can expect your dental crown to last for several years

Crowns and Bridges Smile Gallery

See the Smile Gallery

Testimonial

I actually look forward to going to the dentist.

I love them! Kind, friendly, gentle, patient, and so professional. I actually look forward to going to the dentist.

- Mary J

See More Testimonials

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a nonremovable oral appliance made to replace missing teeth.

Most of our patients receive a traditional dental bridge that is made of zirconia. This type of dental bridge is attached to two dental crowns we place on the healthy teeth adjacent to the space in your mouth. These will attach to artificial teeth as part of the appliance, filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth.

woman with dark hair standing outside smiling You can expect your dental bridge to provide you with many good years of service.

Benefits of a Dental Bridge

Dental bridges are a great way to fill in the space left by one or more adjacent teeth, restoring the look of your smile. They also offer the following benefits:

To maintain the shape of the face
To help ensure proper chewing and speaking
To prevent the remaining teeth from sliding to fill in the space left by missing teeth

Caring for Dental Crowns and Bridges

Proper brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits will help ensure your new restorations last for many years.

There is no need to live with damaged or missing teeth with modern dentistry in Chesterfield, MO. Call Clarkson Dental Group to find out how dental crowns and bridges can restore your smile.

BLOGS

An illustration of a dental crown in Chesterfield

eMax Crowns Before and After: See What's Possible for Your Smile

June 25, 2024

When I first met this patient, he was struggling with his oral health, which was negatively affecting his quality of life. He was embarrassed by his smile, and because of this, his self-confidence was waning. I hated to see this because he has a contagious, fun personality; he wanted to regain his youthful smile and restore his oral health. So, together, we discussed a treatment plan to help him do just that.

Keep reading to learn more about how I treated this patient and gave him a healthy smile he couldn’t ...

View Profile

What to Do If Your Crown or Bridge Falls Off

March 16, 2022

There could be an instance where your crown or bridge may become dislodged from the supporting tooth. Don't panic. Losing a crown or bridge can happen, and our team is here to help you. We can guide you through the steps should this happen to you.

Should I Save My Lost Restoration?

If your crown or bridge becomes damaged or dislodged, please place it in a plastic bag or container for safe keeping until you arrive at your dental appointment. Our Chesterfield dentist can then assess your situation and provide the best ...

View Profile

OUR TEAM

Dr. Scott Mahlin DDS, MAGD, FICOI

Chesterfield native Dr. Scott Mahlin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Louis University. He went on to earn a DDS at the University of Missouri at Kansas City; he did a sedation residency at the University of Alabama. His continuing education includes:

Misch International Implant Institute—Surgical Implant Fellowship
Misch International Implant Institute—Prosthetic Implant Fellowship
Academy of General Dentistry—MAGD Mastership (MAGD), which is attained by less than 2 percent of general dentists
International Congress of Oral Implantologists Fellowship (FICOI)

About his work, Dr. Mahlin says, “I understand that dental care is a very personal ...

View Profile