Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a tooth for protection or for cosmetic enhancement.
Crowns are used to restore the shape, size and strength of a tooth while also improving the overall appearance of the tooth. The dentist may recommend a crown when a patient’s tooth has extensive damage from tooth decay, where a tooth with a filling has become weakened and can no longer support the filling, fractures or following a root canal or bridge. The patient may elect to have – or the dentist may recommend a crown – to improve the appearance of a tooth. There are several types of crowns, including ceramic, porcelain, resin and stainless steel. The type of crown used will depend on the patient’s specific situation.
Crowns are made in 1 visit at our surgery, using our CEREC machine
While some sensitivity to cold temperatures is common for the first few weeks,
contact your dentist if the sensitivity is severe or the bite feels uncomfortable.
Bridges
A dental bridge is used to bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth and is made of two or more crowns for the teeth either side of the gap.
The bridge is then cemented to the teeth either side of the gap. A bridge is recommended following the loss of a tooth due to the impact tooth loss can have on dental health. Tooth loss can cause the remaining teeth to move from their position leading to a bad bite and increase the likelihood of tooth decay, gum disease and temporomandibular joint disorders. The procedure for bridges is very similar to that for crowns and is done in two visits. The teeth will be prepared, an impression made and a temporary bridge put in during the first visit. The temporary bridge will be removed in the second visit and the final bridge put in.
Implants
Implants are used to replace a tooth, or teeth, the patient has lost.
An implant (made of pure titanium) is surgically placed in an opening in the jawbone made by the dentist. Once the implant attaches to the jawbone, it acts a root for the fabricated tooth that is placed where the tooth used to be. The act of the implant attaching to the jawbone may take up to six months and this must occur before the fabricated tooth can be put in. The fabricated tooth may be a removable denture or a non-removable crown. The procedures for implants are generally done under local anaesthesia and patients will be prescribed antibiotics as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of infection.
Implants have an 85-95% success rate, making implant rejection rare.