Crowns & Bridges

Restorative treatments such as crowns and bridges bring damaged teeth back as close to their former beauty, strength, and function as possible. If a tooth is injured or missing, it is important to repair or replace it with an artificial one. This not only improves your appearance, but also your overall dental health.

CROWNS
A crown, often called a cap, is an artificial covering for the visible part of your tooth. Crowns are generally made of porcelain or metal alloys. You may need a crown if you have had root canal treatment, have large fillings in a tooth, a broken tooth, or severely stained, misshapen, or misaligned teeth. A crown covers part or all of the visible portion of your tooth and protects it from further damage.

Here's How It's Done:

1. We make a preliminary impression or mold of your tooth that will allow us to prepare a temporary crown.
2. After administering a local anesthetic, we sculpt and shape your tooth to make room for the crown. Some tooth reduction is required. This process leaves your tooth looking like a post or peg.
3. An impression of the remaining tooth structure and the neighbouring teeth is taken and sent to the laboratory to ensure your permanent crown will fit perfectly.
4. A temporary crown is then constructed and placed over your tooth to protect it between visits while your permanent crown is being made. Temporary crowns may not have the same shape and colour as permanent ones.
5. On your next visit, we replaces the temporary crown with the permanent crown, check it for fit, form, shape, and colour. Then if all is well, we cement it in place. Your tooth is now restored to its proper function and appearance.

This step-by-step process is the usual procedure for crown treatment. However, your teeth may need special attention or preparation, requiring longer visits or more than two appointments with us.

BRIDGES
A bridge is an artificial substitute that replaces one or more of your natural teeth. Also known as a fixed partial denture, it is permanently anchored to your neighbouring natural teeth (or dental implants).
The replacement tooth and adjacent anchoring crowns are constructed and placed in the mouth as one unit that is permanently cemented to your healthy neighbouring teeth. It is not removeable.

Why bridges?

• Bridges are extremely durable and generally last for about 10 years, with good patient and dentist care.
• Replacing missing teeth prevents other teeth from drifting out of line, which can cause jaw problems and affect your bite ( the way your teeth fit together with your mouth closed). Neighbouring teeth can also become more susceptible to decay and gum disease.

Things to Consider

• Local anesthetic is normally necessary to reduce and shape your teeth in preparation for crown placement.
• Because of the precision required, treatment can take two to three lengthy appointments.
• Crowns may need repair or replacement after about 10 years depending on the patient's oral health and dental habits.
• Crowns and bridges can be more expensive than other restorative procedures because of the time and cost of the materials involved.

While we may perform restorative dental treatments such as crowns and bridges, we may refer more complicated cases to a specialist, called a prosthodontist.