Crowns/Bridges
- Home
- Crowns/Bridges
Crowns & Bridges
A dental crown is custom-made to fit over a damaged or broken natural tooth. It restores the function of the tooth and provides strength and support. Crowns are recommended if your teeth are severely decayed, weakened by root canal treatment, fractured, cracked or broken. Dental bridges replace missing teeth.
Crowns and bridges are usually made of porcelain because of its natural appearance and durability.
1. Crowns that look like teeth
A dental crown is a sort of cap that is placed on the tooth in order to replace the damaged enamel and to protect the dental pulp and nerve inside. It can be put in for various reasons: a broken tooth, decayed tooth, cosmetic reasons etc. Crowns that look like teeth are made of a variety of materials depending on their use and we at Guardian Dental Care cater to a patient’s specific needs.
For individuals who want cosmetically viable crowns that look exactly like their other teeth, we recommend the following types of crowns:
- All resin crowns are more prone to chipping and breakage but are much less expensive than porcelain fused to metal crowns.
- All ceramic/porcelain crowns are best for those with allergies to metal and can be affixed on any teeth- front or back.
To get a dental crown fitted, the patient may have to come into our clinic for two or more sittings depending on the issue at hand. In the first sitting, dental x-rays are made and the tooth or teeth to receive crowns are filed down or built up (using filling) to get to the desired shape and size for them to be ready to receive the crown. In the next sitting the crowns that have been made from the impressions are affixed onto the tooth. Subsequently the bite and shape adjustments are made.
Some of the problems that may arise following putting in a crown may be:
- Experiencing some heat and cold sensitivity is common. Pain or sensitivity that occurs when biting down usually means that the crown is too high on the tooth but this is a problem easily remedied by the dentist.
- Crowns made of full porcelain can sometimes chip. If the chip is small, a composite resin can be used to repair the chip which is just a temporary fix. If the chipping is extensive, the crown may need to be replaced.
- Sometimes the cement that holds the crown in place washes off. This not only loosens the crown but also causes bacteria to enter and cause more decay to the tooth. If this problem occurs, a visit to the dentist is a must.
2. Dental bridges
Get your options of dental bridges with Guardian Dental Care
Dental bridges do the job of filling in the gap caused by missing teeth in a jaw. For patients who have lost more than one tooth owing to decay, infection or accident, dental bridges are the way to bring back their intact smile.
Dental bridges can be made of alloy material but these do not look great because of their colour being metallic and therefore not matching the teeth perfectly. Ceramic or porcelain bridges are more common but they are also more expensive than alloy bridges. Based on the placement of the bridge in the mouth, we at Guardian Dental Care give the patient the best possible options to choose from.
The reasons for getting dental bridges fitted are replacing missing teeth to improve cosmetic value of the smile, to enable proper chewing and speaking, to restore the shape of the face by providing proper support to the cheek and lips, preventing other teeth from becoming malaligned and so on.
There are mainly four types of dental bridges
- Traditional dental bridge: These are the most popular variety of dental bridges and they comprise of one or more fake teeth held in place with dental crowns. These are placed in a gap between natural teeth and the crowns are fitted onto the natural teeth on either side of the gap.
- Cantilever bridge: This kind of dental bridge is secured by affixing the dental crown on the natural tooth on one side of the gap that is being filled. The enamel of the natural tooth will be filed and the new dental crown will be fixed on it to secure the bridge into place.
- Maryland bridge: Instead of dental crowns holding the fake teeth together as in traditional bridges, the fake teeth in this kind of bridging is held together by a metal or porcelain framework that are bonded behind the two adjacent teeth.
- Implant-supported bridges: In case of one or multiple spaces in the dental set where teeth are missing, implant supported bridges can be a good option. Here, instead of crowns or frameworks, each fake tooth is attached to an implant which is placed in the mouth individually.
3. Dental crowns
Why opt for a dental crown from experts?
A dental crown is a form of dental cap placed on a tooth to improve its size, shape and strength. Crowns are also put in to improve the appearance of a chipped, discoloured or worn off tooth.
The main reasons for having dental crowns put in are as follows:
- To support a weakened tooth by holding together its cracked parts or to prevent further decay
- To hold in place a dental bridge
- To cover the surface of a tooth with a large filling in order to better its appearance
- To cover a dental implant
- To improve the look of severely misshapen or discoloured teeth
Crowns are made of a variety of materials depending on their use and we at Guardian Dental Care cater to a patient’s specific needs.
- Stainless steel crowns are temporary crowns prepared for children and are put in place till the tooth falls off on its own, usually when a permanent tooth erupts.
- For out of sight teeth like inner molars, metal crowns can be a cost-effective and durable option. These crowns last the longest and wear down the least.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are good for front or back teeth where strength and support is of maximum importance. However, chances of the porcelain part breaking or chipping, more wear and tear for the opposing teeth and receding gums making the metal portion visible make this a less used option.
- All resin crowns are more prone to chipping and breakage but are much less expensive than porcelain fused to metal crowns.
- All ceramic/porcelain crowns are best for those with allergies to metal and can be sued on any teeth- front or back.
To get a dental crown fitted, the patient may have to come into our clinic for two or more sittings depending on the issue at hand. In the first sitting, dental x-rays are made and the tooth or teeth to receive crowns are filed down or built up (using filling) to get to the desired shape and size for them to be ready to receive the crown. In the next sitting the crowns that have been made from the impressions made in the first sitting are affixed onto the tooth. Bite and shape adjustments are made as required.
4. Veneers
Most People Choose Veneers from Us! Why So?
Veneers are wafer-thin laminates used to cover the surface of the teeth to re-create the natural look of the dentition and to replace the tooth enamel. They can be thought of as an outer shell for the teeth which will both protect the teeth and give a good appearance. Veneers are customised according to each tooth and are made to fit the contours of the teeth perfectly.
Normally, the material used to make veneers has to be durable, mouldable and be coloured to match the existing set of teeth. By comparison, porcelain veneers are better at mimicking the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth and they also stain less easily.
Our expert dentists at Guardian Dental Care generally recommend veneers in the following cases:
- When the teeth are discoloured due to prolonged exposure to staining material like certain orally administered drugs or the presence of fillings that are of a different colour than the rest of the tooth.
- To correct malalignment of the teeth and to give them a uniformity of shape and colour
- To repair teeth which are worn down by years of use
- To repair broken or chipped teeth
For a veneer application procedure, about three sittings with the dentist are to be expected. In the first sitting, the dentist examines the teeth to be veneer coated and discusses the procedure, veneer material with the patient. This is when all the patient’s queries or concerns with regard to the procedure and post-veneer care etc are answered. X-rays and impressions of the teeth may be taken during this time.
For the next sitting the dentist will first apply anaesthesia to numb the area where the veneers will be placed. Next, with the help of rotary instruments, the enamel of each tooth to be veneered is trimmed off to about 0.5 mm thickness. Moulds and impressions of the teeth are taken which will be used to create the veneers in the exact colour and shape of the existing teeth.
Finally in the last sitting, the dentist will place the veneers on the teeth adjusting the fit to match with the existing teeth completely.
Dental veneers generally last up to 15 years if proper oral hygiene is maintained.