Dental Crown & Bridges

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth that covers the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength and improve its appearance. A crown may be needed in the following situations:

$

To protect a weak tooth from further damage

$

To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down

$

To help support a bridge in place

$

To help protect a root treated tooth

$

After placement of an implant

$

To improve the aesthetics of a tooth

After the dentist has prepared your tooth for a crown, an impression of the tooth is taken and the crown is fabricated in a laboratory for your tooth. Once fabricated, you will be called back for a fit appointment where the crown will be cemented into place. Crowns can be made in various materials including metal, porcelain and ceramic crowns.

New technology in materials now means ceramic crowns which include Emax and zirconia crowns can perfectly blend strength with great aesthetics to restore your tooth’s shape, function and aesthetics.

Dental Bridges

Dental Bridges

Like the name suggests, is a fixed dental restoration that literally bridges the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on each side of the gap.

These two or more anchoring teeth are called ‘abutment teeth. Dental Bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

$

To help complete an arch of teeth where there are missing teeth

$

To replace missing teeth to improve chewing

$

To stabilize a mouth where there are missing teeth reducing unwanted tooth movement

$

To improve the aesthetics of a smile

Types of Bridges:

There are a few different types of dental bridges, these are:

Fixed Bridge

The fixed bridge often offers the most retentive and natural appearance. Commonly, crowns are cemented permanently on both sides of the gap and the false tooth joins these crowns over the gum.

After the dentist has prepared your tooth for a retainer for a dental bridge, an impression of the tooth/teeth prepared is taken and the bridgework is fabricated in a laboratory for your mouth. Once fabricated, you’ll be called back for a fit appointment where the dental bridgework will be cemented into place.

Bridges can be made in various materials including metal, porcelain, and ceramic crowns. New technology in materials now means ceramic bridges which include Emax and zirconia dental bridgework, can perfectly blend strength with great aesthetics to restore your tooth’s shape, function, and aesthetics

Cantilever Bridges

This is a false tooth that is only anchored to 1 tooth. Cantilever bridges do not have the same strength as fixed bridges so usually, they are fixed in such areas where less strength is required, like front teeth.

As with any cosmetic treatment, at Ghauri Dental Centre we will have an initial consultation to determine whether having a dental bridge is the most suitable form of treatment to replace your missing tooth/teeth. Once the dentist has seen your teeth and determined that you should have dental bridges, it usually takes two visits to make and fit the bridge.

This first visit usually takes between 45 and 120 minutes and involves reshaping the teeth that are on either side of the gap. Local anaesthetic is often given during the reshaping of the teeth.

We also take impressions of your teeth and fit you with a temporary bridge during this first visit. This temporary bridge maintains the look and function of your teeth while the dental technician makes the bridge. A shade for the permanent bridge is chosen to blend in with existing teeth.

The second visit involves the dentist fitting the permanent bridge. The bridge is then cemented to the teeth on either side of the gap. These teeth are drilled down to attach the bridge to either side of the gap.

The middle crown is solid to mimic a tooth, the other two are hollow in order to fit over the teeth. Once treatment has taken place, the patient must be careful to clean well under the bridgework and assuming that the patient keeps the bridge clean, it should last for decades.