A cracked tooth
A crown holds the pieces together so the crack does not spread when you chew.
Restorative dentistry, Portland
Crowns and bridges in Portland: restore a damaged tooth or close a gap.
A crown is a cap that covers a tooth that is too weak for a filling. A bridge uses crowns on the teeth either side of a gap to hold a replacement tooth between them. Dr. Brandvold makes both, and you see the plan and the estimate in writing first.
- Two visitsis the usual pattern for a crown
- Temporarycrown worn between the visits
- In writingthe plan and estimate before treatment
The idea
Restorative dentistry is the quiet craft of keeping the teeth you have working, so that fewer of them ever need replacing.
When
When a crown makes sense.
A large old filling
When a filling takes up most of the tooth, the walls that are left can split.
After a root canal
A tooth that has had a root canal can become brittle and often benefits from a cap.
A worn or broken tooth
Grinding or a break can leave too little tooth for a smaller repair.
The visits
How a crown is made, step by step.
-
01
Exam and X-ray
We check the tooth, the bite and the gum, and confirm a crown is the right repair.
-
02
Shaping and impression
The tooth is numbed and shaped to make room for the crown. We take a digital scan or an impression.
-
03
A temporary crown
It protects the tooth for the one or two weeks the final crown takes to make.
-
04
The fit
The temporary comes off, the final crown is tried, adjusted for colour and bite, and cemented.
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05
Aftercare
We check your bite, show you how to clean around it and book your next check-up.
Materials
Common crown materials in plain words.
Dr. Brandvold recommends a material for each tooth. These are the general trade-offs.
| Material | Looks like | Good for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | A natural tooth | Front and visible teeth | Can chip under heavy grinding |
| Metal alloy | Metal | Back teeth with heavy bites | Strong, but not tooth-coloured |
| Ceramic over metal | Mostly like a tooth | Where strength and looks both matter | A thin metal edge can show near the gum |
Bridges
Closing a gap with a bridge.
A bridge is two crowns, one on each tooth beside a gap, joined to a replacement tooth in the middle. It is made in the same two visits as a crown and can be a good choice when the neighbouring teeth already need crowns.
The trade-off is that healthy neighbouring teeth must be shaped to hold the bridge. That is one reason we also explain the implant route, which leaves neighbouring teeth alone. We lay out both and you decide. Results vary.
- Made in two visits, like a crown
- Neighbouring teeth are shaped to carry it
- Cleaned with floss threaders under the bridge
- Compared with an implant in your written plan
Is getting a crown painful?
The tooth is numbed, so you feel pressure, not pain. It can be sore or sensitive for a few days after each visit. Tell us if it does not settle.
How many visits does a crown take?
Two is the usual pattern, about two weeks apart, with a temporary crown in between. Dr. Brandvold confirms the plan at the exam.
How long will a crown last?
It can last many years, depending on the tooth, your bite, your cleaning and whether you grind your teeth. We check it at each exam. Results vary.
What is the difference between a bridge and an implant?
A bridge needs the neighbouring teeth to be shaped and crowned. An implant replaces the root and leaves neighbouring teeth alone. Each has trade-offs, which we set out in your plan.
What if my crown comes off?
Keep it, rinse it and call us. Do not use household glue. We can often re-cement it, or tell you whether the tooth needs a new one.
Will you tell me the cost first?
Yes. You get a written estimate before treatment, with what your plan is expected to cover. We work with most major PPO plans and offer third-party financing.
Portland, Oregon
See the whole plan before you decide.
An implant consultation is an exam, a 3D scan and a conversation. You leave with a written, phased plan and an estimate. Nothing is decided that day.
| Monday to Thursday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Friday | 8:00 am to 1:00 pm |
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |