Crowns / bridges
West Heath DentalCrowns
Dental crowns (or caps as they are sometimes known) can be used to replace the top part of a tooth which has become damaged or weakened, provided the root is still relatively strong and healthy.
A crown fits over the existing tooth, helping to strengthen it and make it look like a whole, natural tooth. It also protects the remaining tooth from further decay or damage.
Crowns are created in a dental laboratory, using the very latest ceramic material by skilled craftsmen, to give the combination of a perfect fit and completely natural appearance. They are designed using a mould from your mouth, ensuring that your bite remains perfect. Porcelain crowns can be fully matched to your existing teeth but crowns can also be made in gold alloy or glass.
If you have an old crown which you are not entirely happy with, it may well be worth speaking to us about it – you’d be surprised at just what a difference a new one could make!
Bridges
A dental bridge is a permanent and realistic-looking way of filling a gap where teeth may be missing within the mouth. It is important that the gap left by the missing teeth is filled, as this can cause problems with the bite and alignment of your remaining teeth.
A bridge contains one or more false teeth. Unlike a denture, it is permanently held in place by the teeth immediately next to it. It is usually made of a precious metal base such as gold, with tooth-coloured porcelain bonded to any visible areas to make it look natural. Alternatively, very strong porcelain bridges are also now available.
Often, the two neighbouring teeth will be required to have crowns fixed onto them in order to strengthen them for the bridge. The two crowns are then joined together by placing the false tooth between them and cementing them in place. This is known as a fixed bridge.
Sometimes adhesive bridges can be constructed. These have a lot less impact on the neighbouring teeth because the latest bonding techniques are used to hold the false tooth in place.