Crowns & Bridges in Palatine, IL
Crowns and bridges bring back both function and appearance when a tooth is too damaged for a filling or you're missing one or more teeth. Dr. Liana Tremmel relies on custom-crafted porcelain and ceramic restorations at Regency Dental Care that look, feel, and work like your natural teeth, so you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.
What it is
A crown caps a damaged tooth with a custom restoration. A bridge links several crowns together to replace one or more missing teeth, anchoring to the neighboring teeth.
Who it's for
Anyone dealing with cracked, broken, or severely decayed teeth, large failing fillings, teeth treated by root canal, or gaps left by missing teeth.
How we help
High-quality porcelain or ceramic crowns built to last, backed by precise digital impressions and custom shade and shape matching.
Cracked, broken, or missing tooth? A crown or bridge can restore your smile and your bite.
Dental Crowns
Shaped like a tooth, a dental crown caps and protects one that's weakened or damaged, bringing back its shape, strength, and appearance. Each crown is custom made to match your natural teeth and, cared for well, can last 15 years or longer.
When You May Need a Crown
- A large cavity that has outgrown what a filling can repair
- A tooth that's cracked, chipped, or badly worn
- Protection for a weakened tooth following root canal therapy
- Replacement for a large, failing, or broken filling
- A cap for a dental implant or an anchor for a bridge
- Cosmetic improvement of a misshapen or discolored tooth
Crown Materials
- All-porcelain/ceramic: The most lifelike choice, well suited to front teeth and other visible areas
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: Pairs a metal core's strength with a natural porcelain exterior
- Zirconia: Tooth-colored and exceptionally strong, ideal for back teeth that absorb heavy bite force
- Gold alloy: Long-wearing and easy on the opposing teeth, a frequent pick for back molars
- Lithium disilicate (e.max): A premium all-ceramic material that marries exceptional strength with lifelike translucency, often chosen for crowns in the smile line
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge closes the gap left by one or more missing teeth. It's made of artificial teeth (pontics) held by crowns set on the neighboring teeth. Once cemented, the bridge stays put. There's nothing to take out, and it feels and functions like natural teeth.
Filling those gaps keeps your remaining teeth from drifting, returns proper chewing and speech, and preserves the natural shape of your face.
Bridge Benefits
- Brings back your smile along with natural chewing and speech
- Stops the remaining teeth from drifting into the gap
- Spreads bite forces evenly across your arch
- Supports facial structure and wards off the sunken look that missing teeth can create
- Stays cemented in place with no adhesives, no removal, and no fiddling
Bridge vs. Implant
- Bridges anchor to neighboring teeth and wrap up in 2–3 visits
- Implants stand on their own without altering the adjacent teeth
- When neighboring teeth already need crowns, bridges are often the better choice
- Implants shine when the adjacent teeth are healthy and strong
- Dr. Liana Tremmel will help you weigh the two against your specific situation
Missing a tooth or wrestling with a damaged one? Let us help you choose the best restoration for your needs.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Visit Steps
- Consultation: Dr. Liana Tremmel examines the tooth, reviews X-rays, and talks through whether a crown, bridge, or another option fits you best
- Preparation: After numbing, the tooth is shaped to receive the crown, and digital or physical impressions are taken
- Temporary crown: A comfortable temporary guards the prepared tooth while your custom crown or bridge is fabricated at our dental lab
- Final placement: At your second visit, usually 2–3 weeks later, the temporary comes off and your permanent restoration is cemented in place
- Bite adjustment: We fine-tune the fit until your bite feels natural and comfortable
Helpful Tips
- Each appointment generally runs 60–90 minutes
- Numbness lingers for 1–2 hours afterward, so hold off on eating until feeling returns
- Your temporary crown works but isn't as sturdy, so steer clear of sticky or very hard foods
- A little sensitivity after cementation is normal and typically eases within a week
- Brush and floss around a crown as you would a natural tooth, and slide a floss threader under bridges
- Given good care and regular checkups, crowns and bridges can last 15+ years
Frequently Asked Questions
Protect your teeth and restore your confidence. Custom-built crowns and bridges made to last.