Dental Crowns Dental Bridges Agaram Dental Clinic

Crowns

Dental crowns and bridges

Crowns and bridges are a fixed solution to missing or damaged teeth. This restorative procedure uses prosthetic devices to return your smile to its natural state. A crown is used when the tooth structure is damaged or fractured. A bridge is used when one or more teeth are missing.

What is a crown?

A crown is basically a manufactured tooth. It’s generally made of porcelain or ceramic that can be colour and texture-matched to your existing teeth. A crown can also be made of gold alloys for improved strength when replacing a back tooth. Often a metal crown will have porcelain bonded to the exterior to give it strength and a natural look.

How is a crown fitted?

Crowns are used when an existing tooth is damaged, fractured or weakened. The tooth is filed down and reshaped into a smaller size. Any decay is removed and the tooth structure is restored to support the crown. The crown fits like a cap over the newly shaped tooth and is cemented into position.

What is a bridge?

A bridge is a prosthetic appliance that replaces missing teeth. Bridges are usually made of porcelain fused to metal in order to achieve both strength and a natural look.

How is a bridge fitted?

A bridge consists of false teeth rigidly attached between two crowns. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for these crowns and the bridge is cemented into place. In some cases, it’s possible to use implants to replace the missing teeth rather than using the existing teeth. Once a bridge is cemented into position, it looks and works just like natural teeth.

When is a crown or bridge required?

Crowns and bridges are used to repair a number of different dental problems.

A crown can be used when:

  • a tooth is fractured or damaged
  • too much decay has weakened a tooth
  • a tooth is severely discoloured
  • a tooth is misshapen
  • a dental bridge needs an anchor.

A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. It is also a possible solution when dentures are unstable, uncomfortable or aesthetically displeasing.

To find out if you’re a suitable candidate for a crown or bridge, it’s essential that you are assessed by a dentist. Once you explain to your dentist the result you would like to achieve, they will be able to tell you exactly what is, and is not, possible in your situation.

Crown and bridge care

Once your crown or bridge is fitted, it’s important to maintain a regular and effective routine of oral hygiene. Brush and floss two to three times a day, taking extra care to floss around your crown. This will help avoid decay where the crown and the tooth join. Avoid sticky foods such as toffee and lollies, and do not use your teeth inappropriately – chewing pens, crunching ice, gnawing fingernails, etc.

A dental floss threader, which looks like a small bendy brush, can be used to clean under your bridge. There are also water jets on the market that will help keep your bridge clean.

Whether you have a crown or a bridge, the most important thing is to regularly visit your dentist for a checkup and clean. This way problems can be detected early, allowing them to be corrected before they become painful and expensive.

How long will a bridge or crown last?

How long your crown and bridge lasts depends on the effectiveness and regularity of your dental hygiene routine. As a general rule, they last between 7-15 years but longer periods are certainly possible with outstanding oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.

*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

     At Agaram Dental Clinic, we make it our aim to educate our patients as much as possible, so that we can come up with a treatment plan that best suits your personal and financial situation. At Agaram Dental Clinic we offer one appointment crowns!

Rejuvenate the health of your teeth.

A crown or 'cap' is used to completely cover a damaged tooth and may be used for esthetic or functional reasons.. Besides strengthening a severely broken down tooth, it can also be used to improve appearances, shape and even alignment of teeth. Crowns are quite often used to strengthen root canal treated teeth as these teeth are more brittle and likely to fracture. Crowns may also be used in case of large irritable fillings, aging teeth or improper bite due to excessive grinding of teeth

There are 3 types of crowns that can be placed:

о All gold crowns are the strongest, but are the least esthetic.
о Porcelain bonded to metal crowns are somewhat esthetic, but very opaque looking. This is because they have metal insides and porcelain outsides. These crowns always break at the interface between the metal and the porcelain, creating a very difficult fix for a very expensive restoration.
о All porcelain CEREC crowns are the most esthetic and durable option because of their rigid makeup. Because it is one cohesive material, it is very stable to the biting pressures in the oral environment.
о Porcelain Crowns are made to match the exact color, texture and translucency as your natural teeth. They look and feel so natural and no one will even know you have them!

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