Crowns
Why do I need a crown?
Crowns are a very effective means of adding support to weakened teeth with large fillings, root canal treated or at risk of fracture. The aesthetics of a crown is matched to your surrounding teeth so normally the crown looks just as good as your natural teeth!
What is involved?
The process of having a crown involves two appointments.
- Before the crown preparation is done, a mould of the teeth is taken so a temporary crown can be made. The crown preparation involves carefully trimming back around the sidewalls of the tooth and the biting surface of the tooth to allow space for the crown. Once the crown preparation is complete, a detailed mould is taken of the tooth to allow a laboratory to make a crown customised to your tooth and mouth. Finally a temporary crown is made and placed on the prepared tooth using a temporary cement
- At the second appointment, the temporary crown is carefully removed from the tooth. The tooth is cleaned of temporary cement and the customised crown is cemented on the tooth permanently. Final adjustments are made to the crown to ensure your bite is correct.
How to maintain a crown?
A crown is a very aesthetic restoration of a tooth however it requires a thorough home oral care to maintain it.
- Daily flossing and brushing twice a day is essential to maintain gum health around the crown and avoid gum disease and decay which can cause major problems to the crown and tooth.
- Regular visits to the dentist each 6 to 12 months is very important in maintaining the crown in excellent condition.
How long will the process take?
The appointments for crown preparation can take between 1 to 2 hours depending on the complexity of your case. As the crown is custom made to the mould of your prepared tooth, it generally takes about 2 weeks for the laboratory to finish making the crown.
Possible complications?
- There is also a risk that the temporary crown may come off the tooth whilst waiting for the permanent crown to be made. If this happens, it is best to keep the temporary crown and make a time to see the dentist as soon as convenient.
- The preparation for a crown can be very challenging in some cases and can result in some discomfort in the gums after the procedure, which is generally short term.
- If your tooth is vital (not root canal treated) your teeth might also feel mildly sensitive when you are fitted with your temporary crown.
Bridges
Why do I need a bridge?
Bridges are a very effective means of replacing lost teeth with a very aesthetic result which does not need to be removed at night. The aesthetics of a bridge is matched to your surrounding teeth so normally the bridge looks just as good as your natural teeth!
What is involved?
The process of having a bridge involves two or three appointments.
- Before the bridge preparation is done, a mould of the teeth is taken so a temporary crown can be made.
- For a bridge preparation, a number of crown preparations need to be made parallel to each other. Each crown preparation involves carefully trimming back around the sidewalls of the tooth and the biting surface of the tooth to allow space for the crown.
- Once all the crown preparations are complete (which may take two appointments in some cases), a detailed mould is taken of the teeth to allow a laboratory to make a bridge customised to your teeth and mouth Finally, temporary crowns or a temporary bridge is made and placed on the prepared teeth using a temporary cement
- At the second appointment, the temporary crowns or temporary bridge is carefully removed from the teeth. The teeth are cleaned of temporary cement and the customised bridge is cemented on the teeth permanently.
- Final adjustments are made to the bridge to ensure your bite is correct.
How to maintain a bridge?
A bridge is a very aesthetic restoration of a tooth however it requires a thorough home oral care to maintain it.
- Daily flossing and brushing twice a day is essential to maintain gum health around the bridge and avoid gum disease and decay which can cause major problems to the crown and teeth.
- It is strongly advised to use super-floss under the bridge to maintain the health of the gums and avoid decay starting under the bridge.
- Regular visits to the dentist each 6 to 12 months is very important to maintain the bridge in excellent condition.
How long will the process take?
The appointments for bridge preparation usually take between 1 to 2 hours and may take 1 or 2 appointments depending on the complexity of your case. As the bridge is custom made to the mould of your prepared teeth, it generally takes about 2 weeks for the laboratory to finish making the bridge.
Possible complications?
The preparation for a bridge can be very challenging in some cases and can result in some discomfort in the gums after the procedure which is generally short term. There is also a risk that the temporary crowns or temporary bridge may come off the tooth whilst waiting for the permanent bridge to be made. If this happens, it is best to keep the temporary and make time to see the dentist as soon as convenient.
