Dental Crowns and Bridges Service in Fall City, Washington
Durable Restorations with Dental Crowns and Bridges at OneSmile
When a tooth is compromised by severe decay, large fillings, fracture, or following a root canal, a standard filling is often not enough to restore its structural integrity. Similarly, when a single tooth or a series of teeth are missing, the surrounding teeth and jawbone health are put at risk.
You don't have to read the whole page. If you think dental crowns and bridges might be right for you, book a consultation and we'll examine you, walk you through your options and answer your questions in person.
Request An AppointmentAt OneSmile, our restorative dentistry services focus on providing long-lasting Dental Crowns and Bridges that look and feel completely natural. We use advanced technology and premium materials to ensure both aesthetic excellence and functional durability.
Dental Crowns: Protection and Strength
A dental crown (often called a "cap") is a custom-made covering that encases the entire visible portion of a damaged tooth, restoring its shape, size, and strength.
When is a Crown Necessary?
- Protecting Weak Teeth: Preventing a severely cracked or weakened tooth from breaking apart.
- Restoring Function: Covering a tooth with a large filling when there isn't much natural tooth structure remaining.
- Root Canal Treatment: Protecting a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy.
- Aesthetic Improvement: Covering severely misshapen or discolored teeth.
- Dental Implants: Serving as the final restoration (the tooth part) placed atop a dental implant post.
Our Material Options: We offer crowns made from high-strength, aesthetic materials, including Porcelain, Zirconia, and Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM), ensuring we select the best option for visibility, strength, and biocompatibility.
Dental Bridges: Closing the Gaps
A dental bridge is a restorative device used to literally "bridge" the gap created by one or more missing teeth. It is typically anchored to the adjacent natural teeth (or to dental implants) and holds the replacement tooth (pontic) in place.
The Benefits of a Dental Bridge:
- Restores Appearance: Fills the gap, restoring the beauty of your smile.
- Restores Function: Allows you to chew and speak normally.
- Prevents Movement: Stops neighboring teeth from drifting into the empty space, which can cause bite problems.
- Maintains Face Shape: Supports the facial structure, preventing the sunken look often associated with tooth loss.
The OneSmile Restoration Process
The process for crowns and bridges typically involves two visits:
- Preparation: The tooth (or teeth) is prepared, and precise digital impressions are taken. We fit you with a temporary crown or bridge to protect your mouth.
- Placement: The custom-crafted, permanent restoration arrives from our lab. We meticulously check the fit, color, and bite, and then permanently bond the crown or bridge into place.
Let OneSmile restore the full beauty and function of your smile. If you have damaged or missing teeth, contact us today for a consultation to discuss whether a crown or bridge is the right solution for you.
Dental Crowns and Bridges FAQs
If your crown is made in a dental laboratory, we prepare the tooth, take a digital or physical impression, and place a temporary crown to protect it while the permanent one is fabricated. Treat the temporary gently — avoid sticky foods and floss out sideways rather than up. At the second visit we remove it, verify the fit and bite, and cement the final restoration.
Yes. Crowns and bridges can be removed and remade if they loosen, chip, or if decay develops underneath. If a crown comes off intact, keep it, avoid chewing on that side, and call us promptly — the exposed tooth is vulnerable and can shift. In many cases a crown that has simply lost its cement seal can be cleaned and re-cemented.
Brush and floss normally — crowns still need care because the natural tooth underneath can decay at the margins. Bridges need one extra step: cleaning beneath the replacement tooth with a floss threader, interdental brush, or water flosser, since regular floss cannot pass through. We will show you the technique. Also avoid chewing ice or hard candy, which can chip porcelain.
Yes. Modern porcelain and ceramic crowns are shade-matched to your surrounding teeth and mimic how natural enamel reflects light. For front teeth we take extra care with shade selection and translucency so the restoration blends rather than stands out. Most patients find that once a crown is seated, neither they nor anyone else can pick it out in the mirror.
Crowns are recommended when too much tooth structure is missing for a filling to hold up. A large filling in a heavily damaged tooth acts like a wedge and can split the tooth under chewing force. A crown wraps the whole tooth instead, holding it together. Crowns are also standard after root canals, since treated teeth become more brittle and fracture-prone.
The procedure itself should not hurt. We numb the tooth thoroughly before starting, so you feel pressure and movement rather than pain. Afterward, mild sensitivity to temperature or pressure for a few days is normal, especially if the tooth was inflamed beforehand. If discomfort is sharp, worsening, or lasts beyond about a week, call us so we can check the fit and the bite.
With good care, crowns and bridges commonly last many years, and often well over a decade. Longevity depends on the material, where the restoration sits in your mouth, your bite forces, and how consistently you brush, floss, and keep up with checkups. Grinding your teeth or skipping cleanings shortens that lifespan considerably. We check your restorations at every visit so small issues get caught early.
A crown covers and protects one damaged tooth, restoring its shape and strength like a custom cap. A bridge replaces a tooth that is already missing by anchoring a replacement tooth to the teeth on either side. Put simply: a crown saves a tooth you still have, and a bridge fills the gap where a tooth is gone.