Crowns & Bridges
Crowns
A tooth may require a crown or “cap” if there is insufficient tooth structure to support a regular filling.
This may be due to a large amount of decay, or due to tooth breaking away from around a large existing filling. A crown is also usually recommended to protect a root canal treated tooth, which is more prone to fracture following treatment. Crowns can also be placed to improve the appearance of teeth that are worn, crooked, discoloured, or misshapen.
Crowns are most commonly made from ceramics such as porcelain or zirconia, or gold alloys. They offer both superior strength, and in the case of ceramics, excellent aesthetics, both in shade and shape. All of our crowns and bridges are made by a local dental laboratory using the latest materials and technology.
To prepare a tooth for a new crown it is first reduced in height and a margin prepared around the circumference of the tooth. This allows for the thickness of material required. The “stump” that remains is a combination of your remaining sound tooth structure, and filling material which serves as a foundation to support the crown.
A temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth and maintain appearance while the permanent crown is fabricated. The final crown is checked for fit and then cemented or bonded into place. The remaining tooth structure is now completely covered and protected.
Bridges
A bridge is a fixed prosthesis to replace a missing tooth or teeth.
Most commonly this is achieved by placing crowns on the abutment teeth either side of the missing tooth, with a “fake” ceramic tooth joined between them. The bridge is cemented or bonded into place. Care must be taken to clean underneath the “fake” tooth to ensure the continued health of the gums, and to prevent decay underneath the crown margins.
