Crowns & Bridges
Crown
At our practice we understand the need for patients to feel A dental crown is a restoration that entirely covers or “caps” a tooth. Dental crowns strengthen and protect the tooth structure. They are fabricated from a number of different tooth-coloured materials and can improve the appearance of your smile. A crown may be recommended to:
• Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Support a bridge to replace a missing tooth
• Cover a poorly shaped tooth
• Strengthen a tooth that has had root canal treatment
Before an impression is taken the tooth will first be shaped so the finished crown will look perfectly natural. A temporary crown is made at the same time, which is fitted to protect the tooth until the permanent crown is ready.
Bridge
A bridge is a custom device anchored to adjacent teeth to replaces one or more missing teeth. Losing a tooth can cause serious problems for the neighbouring teeth. Because the support and chewing forces are altered, the remaining teeth may begin to shift. A bridge stabilises the teeth as it is cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A false tooth (called a pontic) replaces the lost tooth is attached to the crowns that cover the adjacent teeth. These crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge. An alternative way of replacing missing teeth is implants.