Fillings, Crowns & Bridges in Fishkill

Is a Dental Filling Required?

When a dentist informs you about a cavity, he or she means decay ate a hole in your tooth. To repair the tooth, the dentist must remove the decay and fill the hole with a tooth filling material. This restores your tooth’s shape and function.

Why Do Patients Need Dental Caps and Bridges?

Caps, also called crowns, restore a weakened or broken tooth by completely covering it. A crown is a semi-hollow artificial tooth which goes over the damaged tooth. Crowns are custom-made to look like a natural tooth. A bridge replaces a missing tooth. Bridges contain an artificial tooth, called a pontic, and a crown on each end to go over the teeth which will anchor the bridge. Bridges are also custom-made to match your natural teeth. If you need to repair or replace a tooth, please call our office for an appointment.

Can I See a General Dentist for a Filling, Crown or Bridge?

Yes, general dentists such as ours have the most experience with fillings, crowns and bridges. If you have a decayed tooth you need filled, or you need a crown or a bridge, please call our office to set up a convenient appointment.

How Much Will a Dentist Charge for a Filling, Crown or Bridge?

We primarily base your tooth filling cost on the type of filling you select. We also base your dental crown cost on the crown you select and how difficult it is to place. We calculate your dental bridge cost on these factors in addition to how many teeth the bridge replaces. If you have insurance, we can help you determine your out-of-pocket expenses based on your coverage. If you call our practice for an appointment, our dentist will review your options and the costs associated with each one.

What Kinds of Tooth Filling Materials Are Available?

Amalgam (silver) fillings are made from a variety of metals, including copper, zinc, silver and tin. They are a safe and affordable option. Composite resin fillings are tooth-colored and popular with patients who need a cavity filled in a front tooth. Gold alloy fillings are the longest lasting option. Porcelain fillings are practically invisible, and they are stain resistant so they retain their appearance for a long time.

What Kinds of Crowns for Teeth Are Available?

An all-porcelain crown offers the closest match to a natural tooth. Unfortunately, an all-porcelain crown isn’t strong enough to withstand the chewing force of a back tooth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer the look of porcelain with the strength of metal. You can have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown put on a front or a back tooth. Gold alloy crowns are popular with patients looking for the strongest, longest-lasting crown for a molar that is out of sight.

What Kinds of Bridges Are Available?

A traditional bridge has an artificial tooth surrounded by two crowns for the abutment teeth on either side of the gap left by a missing tooth. If you need a front tooth bridge and only have one healthy tooth to anchor the bridge, your dentist will talk to you about a cantilever bridge. There are also implant-supported bridges which don’t need adjacent teeth for support. If you are interested in a bridge to replace a missing tooth, please call our office for an appointment. Your dentist can recommend the best bridge for you.

What’s the Procedure for Placing a Tooth Crown?

Getting a tooth crown isn’t painful. Our dentist will prepare the tooth by administering a local anesthetic and removing a small amount of the enamel to make room for the crown. Our dentist will make an impression of the tooth for the dental lab. We will provide a temporary crown to protect the tooth until your second appointment. Once the lab returns your crown, we’ll call you back in for your second appointment. Our dentist will remove the temporary crown and cement your permanent crown in place after ensuring it fits properly.

What’s the Procedure for Placing a Tooth Bridge?

Getting a bridge isn’t painful. Our dentist will prepare the abutment teeth by giving you a local anesthetic and removing enough of the enamel so the crowns can fit over the abutment teeth. Next, our dentist will make a mold of the area so the lab technician can make your custom-made bridge. Once the lab returns your custom bridge, we’ll call you back in. Our dentist will take off the temporary bridge he or she put on to protect the area and cement your permanent crowns and permanent bridge in place.