Whether you have a fractured tooth, a large cavity, or missing teeth, Dr. Skoulas can repair your smile with crown & bridge procedures.

Patients of the Financial District and Embarcadero areas of San Francisco can restore functionality and aesthetics to their teeth with these simple and common treatments. Learn about the advantages that these procedures offer and how Dr. Skoulas ensures patient comfort and provides lasting results.

The Benefits Of Crown & Bridge

If one of your teeth has significant damage, a simple filling may not resolve the problem. Dr. Skoulas may instead use a crown, which is a tooth-shaped appliance that goes over your original tooth. The crown:

  • Restores a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance to your tooth.
  • Replaces missing tooth structure due to cavitation or fracture. (It doesn’t seal large fillings)
  • Protects the tooth from further damage.

If you are missing a tooth or several teeth, Dr. Skoulas may instead recommend a bridge replacement. Bridges are made of three or more crowns that are attached to each other to replace missing teeth.

  • The missing tooth space is replaced with a tooth called a pontic.
  • The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are used as anchors for the bridge.
  • Crowns are placed on the anchor teeth and the crowns are attached to the pontic tooth to create the three or more unit bridge.

Bridges are an excellent solution if you want a fixed restoration: one that you don’t have to remove every night since it is cemented in place.

For crown & bridge, San Francisco patients of the Financial District and Embarcadero areas should choose a dental practice that uses high-quality materials and methods. Dr. Skoulas takes precise measurements during your preparation appointment. She always works with established dental labs that prioritize quality. When possible, she also chemically bonds the component to add greater strength to your tooth or teeth.

Well-made crowns and bridges should last years, are less likely to irritate your mouth, and will look more natural.

Before & After Photos

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View Before & After Photos

What Financial District, San Francisco Crown & Bridge Patients Can Expect

With any procedure at our practice, you will benefit from Dr. Skoulas’ approach to patient care. She focuses on minimizing anxiety and discomfort through a range of measures, from our patient entertainment system with music and movies to special anesthesia protocols.

If our dentist recommends that you have a crown:

  • Dr. Skoulas will address the fracture or cavity and prepare your tooth in the first appointment. You will leave with a temporary crown so that your smile’s aesthetics and proper bite are unaffected.
  • About two weeks later, the crown should be ready from our laboratory. In an appointment lasting about a half-hour and requiring no anesthetic, Dr. Skoulas will place this permanent crown.
  • Dr. Skoulas will ensure that the shade, contour, and bite feel comfortable and natural and advise you about ongoing care.

With a bridge:

  • Your preparation appointment will take place about 2 months after your teeth have been extracted. This will give your bone time to heal. For teeth that are missing in the front of your mouth, a longer time may be required for healing of the bone and tissue to make sure that the aesthetic result is perfect.
  • Dr. Skoulas will shape your teeth to fit properly with the bridge “abutments,” or anchors. Then, she will use a temporary bridge to replace your missing teeth. This process generally takes about an hour and a half.
  • Once the permanent bridge is ready from our lab—about two weeks later—Dr. Skoulas may recommend that you return for a quick try-in appointment, which will confirm a comfortable fit.
  • In your final visit, Dr. Skoulas will cement the permanent bridge in place. You won’t need anesthetic, and it should only take a half-hour.

With crown & bridge, San Francisco patients of the Financial District and Embarcadero areas can expect that it will take a few days to get used to a repaired or restored tooth. Your bite may feel different, or the contour of your mouth may feel altered. Over time, you can expect to adjust to the sensation, and you should recover from any residual sensitivity.

If you find that your bite still isn’t comfortable after a few days, please contact our practice so that we can address any concerns. We are here to help you achieve your perfect smile.

Who Is A Candidate For A Porcelain Crown?

San Francisco patients of the Financial District and Embarcadero areas can get beautiful teeth restoration and replacement with a porcelain crown. There are a variety of ailments and conditions that can be corrected with a porcelain crown.

  • Protection – Some patients of the Financial District and Embarcadero areas of San Francisco have teeth that have been weakened by a crack, chip, or some other kind of trauma. A healthy tooth is covered in a super-hard substance called enamel. Enamel is actually the hardest substance your body can make. When a crack or chip happens in a tooth, the soft inside of the tooth is exposed to all the billions of bacteria in your mouth. This makes them particularly vulnerable to infection and decay. A crown will allow Dr. Skoulas to seal up the vulnerable parts of the tooth.
  • Large Cavity Control- Another big benefit of a crown is to repair and rebuild a tooth. If a tooth had an extensive cavity it is likely that the cavity ate away quite a bit of the tooth structure. In a case like this, a tooth will need something stronger than a filling and a crown provides the needed structure support. During the crown procedure, Dr. Skoulas can refill cracks and fill in chips. Not only does this help the tooth, but it also creates a solid foundation on which the crown will sit. Also, if the tooth is worn down from years of use, a crown will restore it to its full biting and chewing capacity.
  • Discolored teeth – While coffee, tea, wine, and berry stains can be greatly reduced with teeth whitening, there are some instances where a tooth is permanently stained. One example of this is when a San Francisco patient of the Financial District and Embarcadero area falls or an accident causes bleeding inside the tooth and turns it blue or brown. Usually when this happens the only way to fix the discoloration is to remove the tooth and replace it with a crown.
  • Root Canal – Porcelain crowns are great for after root canal treatment in order to provide strength to a root canal treated tooth that has suffered from internal weakening.

Caring For A Porcelain Crown

Patients of the Financial District and Embarcadero areas of San Francisco who get a crown are often concerned about whether or not they require any kind of special care. But the great news is that porcelain crowns don’t require any more care than your natural teeth. Patients will simply need to brush their teeth and floss every day, especially around the base of the tooth where the crown meets the base. While the crown itself cannot suffer from cavities because it is synthetic, the natural tooth upon which the crown sits is still vulnerable to decay. Plus, the gums surrounding the tooth can still contract gum disease without proper care.

Common Problems With Porcelain Crowns

While porcelain crowns deliver beautiful and natural-looking results, they are not immune to problems.

  • Sensitivity – to mount the crown, Dr. Skoulas will file down the original tooth to create a sturdy base. But one of the issues that can arise is if the original tooth has a nerve in it, there may be sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
  • Pain – If the crown is mounted too high on the tooth then it can cause pain when the patient bites down. This is a very quick and easy fix so simply call Dr. Skoulas.
  • Chipping – While the medical-grade materials that Dr. Skoulas uses for crowns are extremely strong and durable, they can sometimes crack. If the chip or crack is small, it can sometimes be repaired. For larger cracks the crown may need to be replaced.
  • Coming loose – In some cases the cement that holds the crown in place can fall out. When this happens is leaves your soft, natural tooth exposed to the bacteria that live in your mouth and cause cavities. An infection under a crown can easily turn into an infection that requires a root canal.
  • Falling out – Finally, porcelain crowns can also fall out. If this happens make sure you contact Dr. Skoulas immediately to have it replaced.

Crowns Frequently Asked Questions

  • What Is A Dental Crown?

    Crowns are dental restorations that are also known as “caps.” They’re made of natural-looking porcelain, and they fit over your teeth to provide your mouth with greater strength and stability.
    Dr. Skoulas, along with their master technician in Beverly Hills custom design and craft crowns to make them appear just like your other teeth.

  • When Would I Need A Dental Crown?

    You may need a crown when you have broken fillings, fractures or chips, or sensitive teeth. Crowns are also used to restore the appearance of your natural teeth if they are malformed, ill-positioned, or discolored.
    Damaged or missing teeth can affect your appearance, your self-confidence, and proper chewing function. If you’re unhappy with the way your teeth look or function, or if you’re missing one or more teeth, you can benefit from dental crowns.

  • What’s Involved In Getting A Crown?

    You may need multiple visits for your crown. During your first visit, Dr. Skoulas shapes your tooth. Dr. Skoulas might remove a small portion of the tooth to make room for the incoming crown during this appointment. Doing so ensures that the crown fits comfortably and looks more natural.
    Because Dr. Skoulas is a skilled artist, she creates a hand-designed, custom-crafted picture of how your mouth will look and describes how they can match the crown to your other teeth. She can even use scanning technology as part of the design process to ensure a perfect fit.
    During your last visit, Dr. Skoulas places your permanent crown — which was created by their master ceramist in Beverly Hills — and buffs it for a perfect smile.

Bridge Frequently Asked Questions

  • What Is A Bridge?

    An alternative to a partial denture, bridges one or more teeth that have been lost to a traumatic incident or general decay.

    Bridges use a system of zirconia or sometimes metal, to literally bridge the gap between your teeth. A bridge utilizing two crowns on teeth adjacent to the missing tooth, suspending the false tooth and offering not only a natural healthy appearance, but restoring the mouth to full function.

  • When Would I Need A Bridge?

    Bridges are the prosthodontic treatment of choice if you have gaps from lost teeth and you want to avoid implants or a removable appliance.

    Like crowns, bridges are made of natural looking porcelain. They can also replace back teeth as well as front teeth during a full-mouth reconstruction.

  • What Are The Steps To Getting A Bridge?

    Bridges usually take two visits to complete. Our doctors will prepare adjoining teeth to receive first the temporary bridge and later the final porcelain bridge.

    Then they send a digitized scanned image of the teeth to their master ceramist in Beverly Hills to have the bridge made. Our doctors also use their artistic eye to precisely match the coloring of your other teeth. This process ensures your smile restoration or full-mouth reconstruction will look natural, beautiful, and functional.

    During your second visit, they will carefully fit your permanent bridge into your mouth. Finally, they bond the prosthetic bridge to your natural teeth, giving you a comfortable, perfect-looking smile.

  • How Do I Care For My Bridge?

    Bridges require regular brushing and flossing, just like regular teeth. Our doctors also encourage you to be vigilant about seeing them twice a year for upkeep appointments.

    Although it may feel strange at first, you’ll get used to your bridge in just a few days.

If you are ready to repair or restore your teeth, explore crown & bridge treatment in the Financial District and Embarcadero area of San Francisco. Schedule an appointment now with Dr. Skoulas.

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Dr. Antigone Skoulas San Francisco

SF dentist Dr. Antigone Skoulas prioritizes patient comfort, efficiency, and quality care.

She ensures that those under her treatment understand their options and have confidence in their procedures, and she adds to the capabilities of our SF practice through her professional development as a dentist and the knowledge of her staff.

About Dr. Skoulas