Crowns & Bridges
What are dental crowns & bridges?
Crowns
Your dentist fits the crown over the tooth to restore its integrity. The crown seals off the vulnerable tooth from the mouth in order to reduce the risk of infection and increase the tooth’s longevity.
Bridges
As the name suggests, a dental bridge ‘bridges’ the gap left by one or more missing teeth. The bridge uses the natural teeth on either side of the gap as anchor points and has the replacement teeth attached to it.
Crowns have many advantages
Protect the tooth after root canal
Provide a stable base for a dental bridge
Restore a dental implant post-surgery
Cover chipped or discoloured teeth
The dental crown procedure
Fitting a dental crown requires two appointments.
During your first appointment, the dentist will prepare the tooth for the crown. Once prepared, an impression is taken of the area and sent to a local lab where your unique crown is created.
At the end of the first appointment, your dentist will fit a temporary crown over the prepared tooth to protect it until your personalised porcelain crown is ready.
During the second appointment, the temporary crown is removed and your new, permanent crown is fitted. The dentist will ensure the fit is just right, checking your bite and jaw alignment.
How do I care for my temporary dental crown?
A temporary crown is a short-term solution to protect the tooth until your permanent crown is ready. Certain precautions should be taken with a temporary crown:
- Avoid sticky or chewy foods (e.g., chewing gum or caramel) which can stick to the temporary crown and dislodge it.
- Avoid hard foods (e.g., nuts and raw vegetables) which can dislodge or break the temporary crown.
Is a dental crown procedure painful?
During the dental crown procedure, the mouth is numbed with local anaesthetic so that no pain is felt. After the anaesthetic has worn off, some soreness or discomfort may be felt around the gum where the crown was placed, but over-the-counter medication should alleviate any pain.
Why do we use porcelain dental crowns?
Porcelain is a type of ceramic, and it’s a very good material to use in dental procedures as it can be formed to the shape of natural teeth and look identical. Porcelain can also be made to mimic the translucency and tone of dental ivory. Because of this, it’s often recommended for prominent front teeth, though it’s equally appropriate for large molars.
Porcelain is a bio-compatible material, which simply means it causes no gum irritation or allergic reactions. A porcelain crown feels like just another tooth.
Bridges have many advantages
Maintain the natural shape of your face
Prevents remaining natural teeth from moving
Can help with your speech and pronunciation
Comfortable and easy to maintain
The dental bridge procedure
Fixing dental bridges in place takes course over two appointments.
In the initial appointment, the anchoring teeth (those that will support the bridge) are prepared and moulds taken of the area. These anchoring teeth are shaped so that the crowns of the bridge fit perfectly over them in the next appointment. The moulds are sent to our local lab where they create your unique dental bridge.
In the second appointment, we carefully check the bridge to make sure it’s a perfect fit before cementing it in place.
Is a dental bridge procedure painful?
The mouth is numbed so that no discomfort or pain is felt during the first appointment, and a temporary bridge is used until your permanent one is ready. After the initial appointment, there may be some discomfort in the gums around the anchor teeth, but it shouldn’t last long and over-the-counter painkillers are all you’ll need.
What if my dental bridge is hurting?
If your dental bridge is causing you pain, it’s important that you make an appointment with one of our dentists as soon as possible. Before we can determine what the cause is, we’ll have to examine your mouth and bridge. It could be issues with your bite if the bridge is new, requiring minor alterations. It could be that the dental bridge is loose, or perhaps decay has set in under the crowns that support the bridge.
If ever you experience discomfort or pain in your gums or teeth, please make an appointment with Polished Dental straight away. It’s never a good idea to let these things wait.
How long do crowns & bridges last?
Dental crowns
Don’t last forever, unlike natural teeth. They last up to 15 years on average, though it’s important to remember that the tooth under the crown can still become infected and decay if not properly cared for.
Dental bridges
Usually last for around five to 15 years but, as always, it’s dependent on good oral hygiene. It’s the same with natural teeth; you must make a habit of brushing, flossing and rinsing to ensure the longevity of your dental bridge and to prevent tooth decay in the area.
At Polished Dental we use 3D scanner technology to fabricate crowns and bridges that are seamlessly fit within your smile and strong enough to last decades.
Missing teeth can affect us negatively when it comes to our physical and psychological wellbeing. There are a number of ways in which dental crowns or bridges can help:
Ready to talk to a dentist about dental crowns or bridges? Make an appointment to talk to one of our experienced dentists today!
Payment plans
Interest-free payment plans are available to further make going to the dentist as easy as possible for our patients.
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