Crowns
A dental crown, is a cover or ‘cap’ that is made to fit over a tooth, covering it completely. It allows the dentist to rebuild teeth which have broken down or decayed significantly. A Crown rebuilds natural tooth anatomy, giving the shape of the natural tooth and restore the function and aesthetics.
Without a crown, a tooth that is broken or had large filling or a Root canal treatment can fracture, causing more problems. In such a scenario, your dentist will advise you to get a Crown for your tooth, to protect the tooth.
Dental crowns can be made of different materials. These include Porcelain or ceramic, alloy metals and acrylic. Selection of material for the crown depends upon patient expectations and clinical need, as some types of crowns are more aesthetic than others, whilst others provide more strength
Getting a crown requires 2 visits to your dentist – in the first visit, after the assessment (which may require Xrays and/or other treatment on the tooth such as fillings or RCT), the dentist will numb your tooth and the area around it. After which they will shape your tooth in order to be able to place the crown on it. Next, they will take an ‘impression’ of your prepared tooth, and send it to the dental lab, so that the crown can be manufactured exactly according to the shape and size of your tooth. The dentist will put a ‘temporary crown’ on your prepared tooth to protect it till the permanent one is fit.
You will then need to come a second time for the permanent crown to be ‘cemented’ on your tooth. The dentist will first remove the temporary crown, and check the colour and fit of the new permanent crown. If you and the dentist are happy with the crown, the dentist will proceed to cement the permanent crown on your tooth.
At Wandsworth Town Dental Practice, we are happy to have a discussion with you about the pros and cons of the different types of crowns, as well as your preferences and expectations, so you can feel at ease and happy with your dental treatment.
Bridges
A dental bridge is a traditional form of treatment for tooth replacement i.e literally bridging a gap. Replacing the missing teeth with a bridge not only improves your appearance but will eliminate the risk of any remaining teeth rotating or shifting into the empty spaces.
A bridge is made up of crowns over the natural teeth (or implants) and artificial teeth which replace the missing teeth. The artificially replacing teeth are called pontics and the natural teeth (or implants) next to the gap are called abudments.
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/teeth, its function, aesthetics and cost.
In addition to different types of materials, bridges are of different types based on their design. Your dentist will assess what type of bridge will work best for you and discuss all the options with you.
As with crowns, getting a bridge requires a minimum 2-step process. In the first visit, the dentist prepares the abudment teeth next to the gap to receive the crowns which will hold the artificial tooth/teeth. An impression is then taken which is sent to the dental lab for the manufacture of the bridge. The dentist will then make a temporary bridge for you which should last till you return to receive the permanent bridge.
On your second visit, the dentist will remove the previously placed temporary bridge. The colour and fit of the new bridge will be checked. The dentist may then cement the bridge, or, they may cement it temporarily to give you a few days to see if you are happy with it, before it is cemented permanently.
At Wandsworth Town Dental, you can come in for a consultation, and talk to us about any questions you may have about replacing your missing teeth with bridges.
Alternatives to Bridges
A great alternative to a bridge is a dental implant, these have the advantage that :
- Dental implants support the bone and prevent bone resorption
- Dental implants also do not impact the adjacent teeth, which means you retain more of your healthy dentition
- Implants can last many years and so can often be the most cost effective option over a period of time.
Please note that if you are in dental pain then we offer an emergency dental service too.