Crowns and Bridges

Crowns

Sometimes a broken or cracked tooth cannot be repaired with a filling. Dental crowns are used in this scenario. They can be used to protect a tooth that has already undergone extensive treatments to save it. A crown can be used to restore the appearance, shape or alignment of your teeth too. In this case, ceramic crowns can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth.

What do dental crowns look like?
They are like a 'cap' that fits over the weakened or damaged tooth to make it stronger and more aesthetically pleasing. The surface of the crown is shaped like the natural structure of a tooth. They blend in with the rest of your natural teeth especially when the crown is a ceramic crown. Other materials that do not match the rest of your teeth include gold crowns which are used for patients that need a more resistant material.

Bridges

When a tooth is lost, and a gap is created, the surrounding teeth can move which leads to more dental problems in the future such as the misaligned biting and periodontal disease. The term ‘bridge’ is used because the prosthetic tooth is attached to surrounding teeth to bridge the gap between your teeth. They are different and need to be specially designed to fit your unique needs.

They are cemented in the same way as dental crowns, but they are ideal for people who don't like dentures or only have one or two teeth missing. A bridge can be described as a kind of denture that is used to fill in or bridge the area left by a missing tooth. Conventional dental bridges are made by crowning the teeth on either side of the gap and attaching a false tooth in the middle. A well-designed and well cared for bridge will is an excellent way of replacing teeth.

Recommendations for crowns and bridges

• Replace a bigger filling.
• Protect a damaged tooth that is prone to fracturing.
• Restore a fractured tooth.
• Cover a dental implant.
• Cover a root canal treated tooth.