Ceramic Crowns & Bridges

A beautiful smile can brighten your life – professionally and socially. Close Dental provides a full range of Cosmetic Dentistry treatments, to give you a smile to be proud of.

Dental Crowns and Bridges offer patients a useful solution for tooth replacement or weakened teeth through extensive dentistry or neglect.

Crowns are a protective ceramic or gold cover custom made to fit over an existing tooth. They are often recommended following root canal treatment to protect the remaining tooth once the nerve has been removed.

Bridges are units of pontic (false) teeth that are fixed to remaining natural teeth or crowns to fill a gap. A bridge may take the place of one or more missing teeth and the results can be excellent with good function and aesthetic results. With regular maintenance a well-made bridge can last many years. Listed below are the most common questioned asked by our patients regarding crown and bridge procedures.

What is a crown?

Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth, which have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or by being heavily filled in the past. Root treated teeth may require a crown to protect the remaining tooth structure from fracturing or even worse vertically splitting.

What are crowns made of?

Crowns are made of a variety of materials and new materials are constantly introduced on the market. Different materials are used for different situations.

• Ceramic bonded to precious metal crowns – is made of a precious metal base and porcelain is then applied in layers over the base to make it look like a tooth at conversational distance. This has been the most common type of crown made for the past 25 years.
• Ceramic crowns – these crowns are not as strong as ceramic bonded to precious metal crowns but they can look very natural and are mostly used on front teeth and on people that do not grind their teeth. These are the most popular aesthetic restorations currently available and are used more and more here at Close Dental.
• Composite crowns – these crowns are made of a resin (plastic) material and can look very natural. They are not as strong and smooth as ceramic crowns and are often used as a” short term” intermediate solution for full mouth reconstruction cases. These crowns help the patient to get used to repositioning of the bite and help to protect the remaining natural tooth structure in the meantime.
• Veneers – the most popular procedure used in ‘smile makeovers’. They are also often used to close small gaps, when orthodontics is not suitable. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can be fitted to bring it into alignment with the rest of the teeth. Veneers can protect teeth from further damage caused by acid in foods and drinks or from acids in the stomach that cause the teeth to wear away.
• Precious metal crowns – Gold and palladium crowns are very strong and hard wearing and are usually used at the back of the mouth. They are most suitable for people who grind and clench their teeth. Many years ago the gold crowns was used in front teeth to indicate wealth.

How is a crown made?

The tooth will be prepared to the ideal shape for the crown. This will involve shaping the outer surface of the tooth leaving a core. The thickness of the crown will be the same as the amount of tooth that has been removed.

Once the tooth is shaped an impression of the prepared tooth will be taken and one of the opposite jaw and another to mark the way you bite. All the impressions will be sent to the technician to reproduce a crown that fits the tooth exactly. A visit to the laboratory may be needed to match the colour of the crown to the existing teeth. The prepared tooth will have a custom made temporary crown fitted until the new crown is made.

The treatment takes at least two visits to the practice and one visit with the laboratory, if needed.

How long will a crown last?

The life of a crown depends on how much pressure is applied on the bite and how well you look after it. The crown cannot decay, but decay can start where the edge of crown joins the tooth. It is very important to keep the gums and crown clean and visit your dentist and hygienist regularly. They last for many years if your oral hygiene conditions are ideal.

What are bridges used for?

Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

Why should missing teeth be replaced?

Firstly for function, then appearance. The gap left by a missing tooth can mean greater strain is put on the teeth on each side. The bite can be affected because the teeth on each side of the missing tooth can lean in towards the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth meet. Food can get into the gap and decay and gum disease will develop.
How are missing teeth replaced?

The replacement of missing teeth depends on the number and location of the gaps and the condition of the remaining teeth. There are a few options to replace missing teeth. A bridge can be used where one to three teeth need replacing and especially if the teeth adjacent to the gap are moderately or heavily filled.

An implant (man made tooth root) can be placed into the gap of the missing tooth and a crown is attached to this. This is the standard of care now for the replacement of missing teeth especially if the adjacent teeth are healthy and have not been treated.

A removable partial denture is a compromised option. This needs to be taken out for cleaning and repairs and is mainly used when many teeth need replacement.

How are bridges made?

A bridge is made by constructing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space, and joining these two crowns together by placing a false tooth in the space. The procedure is the same as the crown procedure. The end result is very aesthetic and functional.

*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.