Crowns and Bridges
There's nothing quite like a broken or missing tooth to knock your confidence down a few notches. Whether they’re cracked, severely decayed, or completely missing, damaged teeth can affect how you feel about yourself and how you present yourself to the world.
This does not have to be your story! At Gaslight Village Family Dentistry in East Grand Rapids, we craft beautiful, durable tooth restorations like crowns and bridges to restore your smile’s comfortable function and aesthetics.
What Dental Crowns Do
Porcelain dental crowns are custom-made tooth covers or “caps” designed to blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth. Because a crown covers and protects the entire tooth, it strengthens the underlying structure and protects it from further damage.
The Advantages of Crown and Bridge Treatment
Restored Chewing
Natural-Looking
Long-Term Solution
Frequently Asked Questions
Caring for your dental crown or bridge is quite similar to caring for your natural teeth, with a few extra considerations to ensure your restoration lasts for many years. With proper care, crowns and bridges from our East Grand Rapids, MI, dental office can serve you well for 10–15 years or more.
Proper Care for Your Crown or Bridge
- Daily Hygiene Essentials — Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, paying special attention to the gum line where your crown or bridge meets your natural tooth. For bridges, use a floss threader or water flosser to clean underneath the false tooth portion—this area is crucial for preventing gum disease and bad breath.
- Foods to Approach Carefully — While your crown or bridge is designed to handle normal chewing, avoid using your teeth as tools and be cautious with extremely hard foods like ice, hard candies, or nuts. Sticky foods like caramels can potentially pull off a crown, especially if the cement has begun to weaken over time.
- Warning Signs to Watch For — Contact us immediately if your crown feels loose, if you notice pain when biting down, or if you see any changes in your gum tissue around the restoration. Early intervention can often prevent more complex problems.
Regular checkups allow us to monitor your crown or bridge and catch any issues before they become serious problems.
Questions about caring for your dental work? Call (616) 454-8228 to speak with our team. We proudly serve East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Ada, and the surrounding West Michigan communities.
Same-Day Crown Technology
Tired of waiting weeks for a crown? We're pleased to offer CEREC® same-day crowns that we can design, fabricate, and place in a single visit. No temporaries, no second visit, and no waiting weeks for your restoration.
The CEREC Same-Day Crown Process
During your same-day crown appointment, Dr. Wansten will:
- Remove the decayed or damaged part of your tooth
- Precisely shape the tooth to receive the crown
- Use digital scanning to capture detailed impressions
- Design your crown using advanced computer software
- Mill your custom crown from high-quality ceramic material
- Check the fit and make any necessary adjustments
- Polish and permanently cement your crown in place
You'll walk out with a fully restored tooth that looks natural and functions perfectly, all in one convenient visit. For complex cases or when same-day treatment isn't the best option, we also offer traditional lab-fabricated dental crowns.
Our Team
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Dr. Joshua Wansten
Education and Experience
Dr. Wansten earned his Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology from the University of Michigan in 2004, followed by his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from U of M's School of Dentistry in 2009. He completed his General Practice Residency at Loyola University Chicago in 2010, providing him with advanced training in complex dental procedures. Dr. Wansten joined Gaslight Village Family Dentistry in 2022.
Patient Care Philosophy
Dr. Wansten was drawn to dentistry because it combines his fascination with science with the opportunity to help people. He appreciates the blend of ...
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Testimonial
Efficient, Kind, and Budget-Friendly Care.
I have been going to Gaslight Village Family Dentistry for years now. They are always incredibly kind, helpful, efficient. They do crowns in-house same day. They are so understanding of my budget and coordinating when work can be done considering my budget. They’re very communicative about the plan and the estimated amount owed (including the long term plan for any and all dental work needed). I would highly recommend Gaslight Village Family Dentistry to anyone!
- Sabrina
Dental Bridges for Missing Teeth
Are you missing one or more teeth in a row? A dental bridge is an excellent, time-tested replacement option. Crowns are attached to teeth on either side of the missing tooth, with an artificial tooth called a pontic filling the gap.
Almost anyone with a missing tooth can get a bridge, as long as the teeth on either side of the gap are healthy enough to support it. Beyond completing your smile, a dental bridge prevents neighboring teeth from drifting out of alignment and helps maintain facial support to avoid a sunken appearance.
Let's Get You Scheduled!
Don’t let damaged or missing teeth affect your confidence or ability to eat comfortably. Call our East Grand Rapids dental office at (616) 454-8228 to schedule your consultation to explore your options.
Gaslight Village Family Dentistry serves patients throughout East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Ada, and all surrounding West Michigan communities.
Same-Day Crowns and Bridges Technology
CEREC® Same-Day Restorations
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This technology allows us to design, create, and place custom crowns, inlays, and onlays in a single visit. Using digital impressions and precise milling, we craft restorations from durable ceramic blocks that match your natural teeth perfectly.
This technology eliminates temporary crowns, multiple appointments, and messy traditional impressions. You'll leave with your completed restoration the same day, saving time while enjoying beautiful, long-lasting results that look and feel completely natural.
