What are Dental Crowns and Tooth Bridges?
Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, which you can take out and clean daily, crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by a dentist
How do Crowns Work?
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. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. Other materials include gold and metal alloys, acrylic and ceramic. These alloys are generally stronger than porcelain and may be recommended for back teeth. Porcelain bonded to a metal shell is often used because it is both strong and attractive.
Your dentist may recommend a crown to:
- Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
- Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
Dental crowns
A crown is a cap or covering for a tooth. It is used when your tooth is discolored, cracked or broken, heavily filled, or if fillings have been lost.
There are many different types of dental crowns available from your National Dental Care dentist. Your dentist will advise the best option depending on the location of the crown. They may recommend ceramic, resin or sometimes even gold crowns.
Our dentists use their expertise and modern technology to match the new crown to the shape and color of your existing teeth.
How do Bridges Work?
A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. 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. Porcelain or ceramic bridges can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.
How are Crowns and Bridges Made?
Before either a crown or a bridge can be made, the tooth (or teeth) must be reduced in size so that the crown or bridge will fit over it properly. After reducing the tooth/teeth, your dentist will take an impression to provide an exact mold for the crown or bridge. If porcelain is to be used, your dentist will determine the correct shade for the crown or bridge to match the color of your existing teeth.
Using this impression, a dental lab then makes your crown or bridge, in the material your dentist specifies. A temporary crown or bridge will be put in place to cover the prepared tooth while the permanent crown or bridge is being made. When the permanent crown or bridge is ready, the temporary crown or bridge is removed, and the new crown or bridge is cemented over your prepared tooth or teeth.
Dental crowns
A crown is a cap or covering for a tooth. It is used when your tooth is discolored, cracked or broken, heavily filled, or if fillings have been lost.
There are many different types of dental crowns available from Brighter Smile dentist. Your dentist will advise the best option depending on the location of the crown. They may recommend ceramic, resin or sometimes even gold crowns.
Our dentists use their expertise and modern technology to match the new crown to the shape and color of your existing teeth.
When would I need a crown?
- Cover discolored or worn teeth
If you feel that your teeth are becoming more transparent or darker in color, they may be wearing down. Your dentist will discuss the reasons behind this as they must be treated first. If your dentist recommends a crown restoration, then this crown will be made to match the natural shape and strength of your existing tooth in a ceramic material. - Replacement of a large filling
If your teeth are heavily filled, they may be at risk of fractures or de-bonding of fillings. Frequent replacement of fillings can lead to loss of precious tooth structure. Repeated dental treatment on the same tooth may lead to the deepening of the filling and subsequent nerve inflammation. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend that a crown is constructed before the filling becomes too large and the remaining tooth structure is too short to support a crown. - To stop a tooth from further cracking or fracturing
If your tooth is showing fine lines and cracks, or you occasionally feel sensitivity when biting into sticky or hard foods, your tooth may have a deep crack or may be at risk of complete fracture. This is common for heavily filled teeth, especially where an amalgam filling is in place. Your dentist may recommend a crown to restore the tooth and protect its cusps from splitting apart. The dentist may suggest replacing any amalgam with a ceramic restoration. - To anchor a bridge replacing a missing tooth
If a tooth is missing or lost, your dentist will discuss the options for tooth replacement. This may involve the placement of an implant or a tooth-supported bridge. If two or more teeth directly next to the lost or missing tooth are at risk of fracture or are discolored and need crowns, a bridge may be a good option to replace the missing tooth. When the bridge is produced, a porcelain tooth (pontic) is fused to the two or more crowns on either side. Once the crowns are fitted onto the adjoining teeth, the porcelain pontic appears to be emerging out of the gum. A bridge may be suitable for you if you are unable to have an implant due to issues with your overall health or dental health. - After root canal treatment
Root canal filled teeth are prone to fractures, due to the nature of root canal treatment and hollowing out of the tooth in the process. Dentists highly recommend crowning most root canal filled teeth to protect them from fractures and further bacterial infections.
Dental bridges
A dental bridge is a ceramic structure, spanning the gap left by a missing or extracted tooth. A ceramic tooth (pontic) is fused between two or more porcelain crowns on either side of the missing tooth that serve as anchors. The anchor teeth are shaped to accommodate the crowns, and then a bridge is bonded securely over these teeth.
in Brighter Smile Dental will take an impression or a digital scan of your mouth and then design a ceramic tooth to insert between the two existing crowned teeth. The pontic tooth and the crowns on either side are matched to the color and the shape of your existing teeth.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions, so get an appointment today.