Crowns & Bridges
What is a crown?
Crowns are porcelain tooth-shaped caps, which fit over your teeth providing strong, attractive, long term protection for your teeth. Bridges are similar to crowns and help restore gaps left by missing teeth. There are different types of crowns, some are made of porcelain, some are made of metal and some are a combination of the two.
When are crowns used?
Crowns are used to protect teeth with large fillings / root fillings / cracks or discolouration. Once the tooth has been prepared for a crown an impression is taken and the crown made in a laboratory. At a separate appointment, the crown is cemented onto the tooth. Crowns are strong, long-term protection for your teeth.
Advantages of a Crown
- A tooth crown will help to reinforce and restore the tooth structure so it is functioning properly
- All porcelain or porcelain fused to metal crowns can restore aesthetics of the tooth, providing you with a smile you are proud to show off
- A tooth crown can be very successful when the underlying structure is healthy
Disadvantages of a Crown
- A tooth crown requires meticulous oral hygiene to prevent decay reoccurring at the join between tooth and crown.
- When porcelain fused to metal crowns or all porcelain crowns are used for aesthetic reasons, there is a risk of porcelain fracture (3-5% over 10 years).
- There can be the need for a root filling, which will result in additional costs.
- With patients that tend to brux or grind their teeth (particularly at night) there is a higher risk of failure of the restoration, particularly from porcelain fracture. In these cases gold crowns are recommended in areas that are not of aesthetic concern along with the use of a “night-guard” to minimise damage
Advantages of a Bridge
- A tooth bridge will restore gaps created by missing teeth
- They help to reinforce heavily filled teeth on either side of a gap and restore them back into full function
- Using porcelain fused to metal bridges can restore aesthetics of the teeth, ensuring our patients have a great smile
- When the underlying tooth structure is sound they have good long-term success