Crown & Bridge
What is a Crown and what is a Bridge and why do I need one?
Crowns, often called “caps”, are a type of restoration that covers or encases the tooth that it is cemented to. They are used for teeth that have lost a lot of tooth structure, teeth with signs and symptoms of cracks and are always recommended for root canal treated teeth. Crowns help to rebuild and protect teeth and reduce the risk of further fractures.
Bridges are a fixed solution to missing teeth. It involves placing crowns on teeth either side of the gap (these are called abutments) and a false tooth to fill the gap (this is called the pontic).
Bridges may not always be suitable, or the best solution for replacing missing teeth; book in for a consultation and the dentists at Queen Street Dental can advise you on the options and what is most appropriate for your dental needs.
Crowns/bridges can be made from gold alloys, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, acrylic. The material of choice will depend on the case, situation, tooth and your preference.
What Are the Benefits?
- Due to the encompassing nature of a crown, it reduces the risk of teeth breaking and splitting
- Crowns can strengthen fragile teeth
- Crowns and bridges can help rebuild teeth that are missing a lot of tooth structure
- Porcelain crowns can be highly aesthetic and appear like a natural tooth
- Crowns can help to rebuild and protect teeth where there has been a lot of wear
- Generally crowns will last much longer than a filling
What Are the Risks?
- Although rare, due to the preparation required, the tooth can sometimes require root canal treatment following the crown preparation. This can occur shortly after or many years later
- Crowns can sometimes de-bond however generally we are able to re-cement the crown onto the tooth
