CROWNS
Over time, teeth can be damaged, cracked or weakened by decay. Dentists use a crown to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Crowns are made to match the color of your natural teeth, and besides strengthening an impaired tooth, these can be used to improve your teeth’s appearance, shape or alignment.
Dental crowns can be fashioned from stainless steel, ceramic, acrylic, gold and metal alloys. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, crowns are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by your dentist.
Our team of dental experts at Epione Dental Care may recommend a crown to:
- Protect a weak tooth from breaking, or hold together segments of a cracked tooth
- Restore an already damaged tooth
- Replace a large filling when there is not enough tooth remaining
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a badly shaped or severely discoloured tooth
- Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
How long does a dental crown last?
With good oral hygiene, crowns can last a lifetime. A crown may come loose or fall out if the underlying tooth is damaged by gum disease or tooth decay. While a crowned tooth does not require any special care, it is important to keep your gums and teeth healthy by brushing with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes twice a day and flossing daily. Also, remember that regular checkups and professional cleanings are just as necessary to make sure you maintain your optimum oral health.
BRIDGES
Dental bridges, also known as fixed removable dentures, literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
A typical bridge is made up of two crowns (one on either side of the gap) and a false tooth/teeth in between. Bridges are attached to surrounding natural teeth or dental implants for support. The anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth and the false teeth are called pontics. Pontics can be made from porcelain, alloys, gold or a combination on materials.
If you have lost a tooth/teeth, bridges can restore your smile, your ability to properly speak and chew and maintain your facial structure. Bridges can also prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of position.
How long does dental bridges last?
Depending on which type of bridge your dentist suggests, its success depends on the foundation. This is why it’s vital to keep your remaining teeth strong and healthy. On the average, dental bridges can last five to seven years. With good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning, a fixed bridge can even last for over a decade.
F.A.Q's ON CROWN AND BRIDGES
What’s the difference between different types of crowns ?
Crowns, veneers and bridges can be made of various metals, high strength ceramics or a combination of both. Different types are suitable for different people and in different areas of the mouth, and different aesthetic demands. The quality and appearance of your crown is not dependent on what it’s made of, its dependent of the skill and artistry of how it’s made.
How long do crowns, veneers or bridges last?
On average fixed restorations lasts 7-15 years. This time can be reduced if you do not clean the teeth properly and allow gum disease or dental decay to affect the teeth. Also trauma can damage restorations in the same way it damages natural teeth.
Do I always need a root canal to have a crown?
No, teeth often receive crowns without a root canal.
Are implants better than bridges?
Not necessarily. If the teeth either side of a gap require crowns is may be more sensible and economical to have a bridge.
Do you offer different standards of crowns?
No, only the best quality crowns, bridges and veneers are used for all patients. We use different labs for different cases because some labs can recreate teeth for younger people, older people, or bleached teeth better than others. Under no circumstance do we use inferior medical devices even if they are cheaper
I dont want really white false looking teeth, do crowns look false?
No, good crowns look highly realistic and can match to you existing teeth very well. If however you want a Hollywood smile you can have that also.
What is involved in having a crown, bridge or Veneer?
First the area is numbed with local anesthetic. The teeth are prepared so a restoration can fit over them. This preparation is important and detailed work, and takes time. After this an impression is made of the prepared teeth and the teeth in the opposite jaw in order to get the correct bite. These impressions are send to one of our high quality dental laboratories to have the restorations manufactured. During this phase you wear a plastic temporary crown, bridge or veneer that looks like teeth. When they are returned to us, we try them in and check they fit properly, bite properly and look good to you and us. If everything is good, the restoration is cemented permanently onto your teeth.
How long does treatment take?
This will depend on your situation and clinical needs. A good quality restoration will take several weeks to be manufactured meaning that you will need at least two appointments several weeks apart. You have a temporary crown or bridge in the meantime. Quality work cannot be done in short spaces of ti