Crowns & Bridges
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Crowns & 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 used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. Crown is often needed to restore large cavity and post-endodontic / root canal treatment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function.
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. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Your dentist can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost.
How is a bridge fitted?
A bridge consists of false teeth (pontic) that rigidly attached between abudment’s crowns. In some cases, it’s possible to use implants to replace the missing teeth rather than using the existing teeth as abudment. Once a bridge is cemented into its position, it will look and work just like natural teeth.
When is a crown or bridge required?
- A tooth is fractured or damaged
- Huge decay
- A tooth is severely discolored
- Mild malposition
- Abutment is needed for bridge
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.
Indication for dental bridge
- Restoration of partial edentulous if enough healthy teeth remain on the dental arch to support the bridge. It is the main indication of dental bridges. Partial edentulous is a condition where one or more teeth (but never all) are missing from the dental arch.
- Restoring teeth with advanced destructions, erosions or large fillings. A dental bridge can be designed when some teeth show advanced destructions, large cavities, erosions or old unsightly fillings. The dental bridge, besides replacing the missing teeth, will restore the morphology of the teeth with advance destructions.
- Aesthetic restorations. Sometimes, one or more teeth are out of shape, out of place, or may show discolorations, yellowish color or unsightly fillings. If changes are not too advanced, an aesthetic dental bridge may be a viable therapeutic option.
- Restoring teeth with high degrees of abrasion. Abrasion is a condition that can occur both due to physiological wear of the teeth, or due to pathological conditions (e.g. bruxism). Over time, teeth become small and unsightly. This condition is difficult to treat.
To find out if you’re a suitable candidate for a crown or bridge, it’s essential that you are assessed by a dentist.
Procedures
First Visit
1. Consultation
2. Intra-oral examination
3. Temporary crown preparation
4. Tooth preparation
5. Take a mould
6. Color selection
7. The dentist will use shade-guide
8. Laboratory process
Second Visit
Products used
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown can be color matched to your adjacent teeth. However, more wearing to the opposing teeth occurs with this crown type compared with metal or resin crowns. The crown’s porcelain portion can also chip or break off. Next to all-porcelain crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. However, sometimes the metal underlying the crown’s porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.
- All Porcelain crown
- Zirconium crown, which are digitally constructed in a dental lab. These crowns require no impression. Zirconium crowns are definitely more robust than porcelain crowns. They last longer too, compared to porcelain that chip and break. Since Zirconium crowns are milled from a chunk of crystal, they are at least 5 times stronger than porcelain and it metal fuse. Zirconium crowns also provide strength without that bulky appearance that porcelain is so known for
Crown and bridge care
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.
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