Crowns & Bridges | Oefinger Dental & Associates

Crowns & Bridges in San Antonio

Repair Your Teeth, Revitalize Your Smile

Whether you’re repairing a damaged tooth or replacing a missing one, Oefinger Dental & Associates provides high-quality, custom-made crowns and bridges designed to look and function just like your natural teeth.

All About Dental Crowns

A crown or cap is a tooth-shaped covering that fits over a damaged or decayed tooth. Crowns are made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination to ensure durability and a natural appearance.

At Oefinger Dental & Associates, Dr. Oefinger uses crowns to restore your teeth's shape, size, strength, and aesthetics while protecting weak or cracked teeth from further damage.

How Dental Crowns Work

To place a crown, your dentist will prepare the damaged tooth by removing decay and shaping it for a precise fit. An impression of the tooth is taken to create a custom crown that blends seamlessly with your natural teeth.

While your permanent crown is being crafted, you'll wear a temporary one for protection. Once the final crown is ready, it will be securely bonded to your tooth, restoring its function and appearance.

Caring for Dental Crowns

To extend the life of your crown, practice good oral hygiene, including brushing twice daily, flossing regularly, and attending routine check-ups at Oefinger Dental & Associates.

Avoid hard or sticky foods that could damage or loosen the crown. If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend a night guard to protect your crown and natural teeth.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Restores the function and appearance of a damaged or decayed tooth
Protects weak or cracked teeth from further damage
Improves the aesthetics of misshapen or discolored teeth
Provides support for a dental bridge or covers a dental implant
Can last for many years with proper care and maintenance

FAQs About Crowns

Why choose a crown over a veneer?

Crowns are typically the better choice for restoring significantly damaged teeth. Unlike veneers, which cover only the front of the tooth, crowns provide full coverage, encasing the entire tooth for enhanced strength and durability.

Crowns are versatile and can address a range of dental issues. They're also an excellent option for protecting implants or severely decayed or cracked teeth, ensuring a fully restored and functional smile.

What’s the treatment process for a crown?

Do crowns look like normal teeth?

How do I care for a crown?

To keep your crown in top shape, maintain good oral hygiene by brushing twice daily and flossing regularly. Pay extra attention to cleaning around the gum line to prevent decay or plaque buildup at the base of the crown.

Avoid chewing hard foods, ice, or other tough objects that could damage the crown. Wearing a protective night guard can help prevent unnecessary wear and tear if you grind your teeth at night.

All About Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a prosthetic device designed to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of artificial teeth, known as pontics, supported by adjacent natural teeth or dental implants.

At Oefinger Dental & Associates, we craft durable, high-quality bridges using materials like porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination, ensuring your new smile looks and feels completely natural.

Types of Bridges

Traditional bridge: Features one or more pontics secured by dental crowns placed on the adjacent teeth. This is a stable and reliable solution for most patients.
Maryland bridge: A less invasive option, this bridge uses metal or porcelain wings bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth to hold the pontic in place.
Cantilever bridge: Suitable for situations where only one adjacent tooth is available, this type of bridge anchors the pontic to a single natural tooth.

How Traditional Fixed Bridges Work

Dental bridges allow Dr. Oefinger to replace missing teeth without relying on dentures or surgical implants. The process typically includes:

Initial visit: We take detailed notes, digital scans, and impressions to capture the size, shape, and color of your teeth and the surrounding area.
Fabrication: The information is sent to a skilled dental lab, where your custom bridge is crafted with precision by a licensed dental ceramist.
Placement: Once your bridge is ready, you'll return to our office for a final fitting, where it will be securely placed on the adjacent teeth to complete your smile

Benefits of Bridges

Choosing a dental bridge from Oefinger Dental & Associates offers several advantages:

Restores your ability to chew and speak, enhancing your quality of life
Prevents surrounding teeth from shifting, helping to maintain proper alignment and avoid further dental issues
Improves the appearance of your smile, boosting your confidence and self-esteem
Provides a long-lasting solution for missing teeth, delivering functionality and aesthetics for years

FAQs About Dental Bridges

What’s a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic device designed to replace missing teeth. At Oefinger Dental & Associates, it's an excellent option to restore one or more teeth without dentures or surgery for dental implants.

The bridge consists of a replacement tooth (or teeth) held in place by crowns on the adjacent teeth, crafted from porcelain or ceramic to blend seamlessly with your natural smile.

Do I need a dental bridge?

If you're missing teeth and can maintain good oral hygiene, a dental bridge can be a fantastic solution to restore function and aesthetics.

Missing teeth can make chewing and speaking difficult and affect your smile and facial structure. Left untreated, gaps can cause surrounding teeth to shift, leading to misalignment and other oral health issues.

A dental bridge not only restores your ability to eat and speak comfortably but also helps maintain your facial structure, enhancing your overall appearance and confidence.

What’s the process for getting a bridge?

The process for a traditional fixed bridge includes two visits:

First visit: Dr. Oefinger or Dr. Omeis will take impressions and measurements of your teeth to ensure the bridge fits perfectly.
Fabrication: This information is sent to a dental lab, where a skilled ceramist crafts your custom bridge.
Second visit: Once your bridge is ready, we'll place and secure it to the adjacent teeth, completing your restoration.

Is a bridge right for me?