Expertly-designed dental crowns and bridges in San Francisco

A damaged or missing tooth has a big impact on your smile and your oral health. The highly qualified dentists at West Portal Family Dentistry provide dental crowns and bridges to restore San Francisco smiles beautifully.

Versatile dental crowns

A dental crown is a cap that covers a tooth, restoring natural shape, size, and strength. A crown is a good option in these situations:

  • Decay is too advanced for the tooth to support a filling.
  • To hold together and brace a cracked tooth.
  • To save a broken tooth.
  • The finishing touch for root canal therapy or a dental implant.
  • To anchor a bridge or a partial denture.
  • For cosmetic enhancement of a poorly shaped or discolored tooth.

First, the tooth is shaped with special instruments. Impressions are taken and sent to a dental laboratory, where the crown is fabricated. A temporary crown is placed so that you can eat normally and look natural. The initial appointment takes approximately an hour and a half. You return in about ten working days to have the interim restoration removed and the final crown cemented in place.

The dentist may recommend:

  • An all porcelain crown for a front tooth restoration, or a porcelain fused to metal crown to restore a back tooth.
  • A zirconia crown if you have a heavy bite or grind your teeth.
  • An all gold crown for back molar teeth.

West Portal Family Dentistry also offers porcelain inlays and onlays. They are appropriate when the area of decay or damage is too big for a filling, but doesn’t require a full crown.

Bridges

A dental bridge consists of an artificial tooth (or several), held in place by crowns on teeth adjacent to the gap. The process is similar to the crown procedure described above. A bridge is a good option for the patient who is not a good candidate for, or doesn’t want, a dental implant.

For more information on dental crowns and bridges, call our San Francisco office at (415) 604-9292.

Dr. Terri Nguyen has over 20 years of expertise in the field of dental practice

A graduate from UC San Francisco with a Doctor of Dental Science degree, Dr. Terri M. Nguyen has over 20 years of expertise in the field of dental practice. She is known for her caring and passionate nature towards her patients whilst having a wealth of knowledge and technical skill.

Dr. Nguyen continues to update herself with newer and tested treatment methods and technology to ensure that she is capable of delivering the best possible service to her clients. Her areas of specialty include root canal therapy, implant dentistry and cosmetic treatment. She is also a prestigious member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

Dr. Tiffany H. Nguyen grew up in Santa Clara. She studied dentistry at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, with over 6 years of expertise in the field of dental practice. She is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

As a Bay Area native, Dr. Tiffany Nguyen is excited to settle in the West Portal neighborhood and serve her community.

Dr. Tiffany Nguyen has over 6 years of expertise in the field of dental practice
Dr. Laura Huynh dedicates herself to providing the highest level of dental care to patients

Dr. Laura T. Huynh dedicates herself to providing the highest level of dental care to patients of all ages. While she has over 15 years of experience in all areas of general practice, she especially enjoys pediatric dentistry and cosmetic dentistry for adults.

A UC Irvine graduate, Dr. Huynh obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Arthur Dugoni Dental School at University of Pacific. She stays on top of the latest trends and technologies in dentistry by following continuing education courses annually. She is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and San Francisco Dental Society.