Dental Crowns & Bridges

BENEFITS

• Enhances the appearance of a tooth
• Can protect and strengthen the tooth
• Natural-looking
• Fixed in place
• Durable
• Confidence boosting

TREATMENT STEPS

• So the crown can be accommodated, we remove a layer tooth structure, but make sure we leave a strong core. The amount of tooth removed depends on the thickness of the crown, which can differ depending on the material used to make it.
• We then take impressions of your teeth and record their colour so the crown can be made to fit perfectly.
• Between appointments, we protect the prepared tooth with a temporary crown.
• When your crown is ready, the temporary crown is removed and the new permanent one fixed in place with a strong dental cement.

AFTERCARE

The best way to care for your crown is to stay on top of your oral hygiene – this means keeping your teeth and gums healthy by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice day and flossing between your teeth. You also need to see your dentist regularly for check-ups so they can keep an eye on your crown and the tooth underneath.

A crown protects a tooth from decay, but not where it meets the gum, and it does not guard against gum disease, so it’s important to keep the area clean and free from bacteria.

BENEFITS

As well as restoring an incomplete smile, bridges can offer a host of other benefits, including:

• Improving how you eat and speak.
• Enhancing facial contours.
• Distributing the forces in your bite correctly.
• Preventing remaining teeth from moving out of position.

TREATMENT STEPS

• The abutment teeth are prepared by removing a layer of enamel to ensure there will be sufficient room for the crowns.
• Impressions are taken so the bridge can be tailor-made to fit.
• While the bridge is being made, a temporary bridge may be put in place to protect the exposed teeth.
• When ready, the bridge is checked and adjusted to make sure it fits perfectly and it is finally fixed in place with strong dental cement.

As well as traditional bridges, featuring crowns and a false tooth in between, there are also cantilever bridges, for cases where there are teeth on only one side of the gap, and Maryland bonded bridges, which are attached to existing teeth with metal or ceramic wings.

AFTERCARE

Good oral hygiene is essential to ensure the longevity of your bridge. It is especially important to clean under the false tooth, as well as brushing and flossing regularly.

If bridges are well looked after, and that includes keeping the surrounding teeth healthy so they can continue to provide a solid foundation, they should last for over ten years.