Dental Crown and Bridge in Melbourne

Crowns

Chipped or fractured teeth, broken down fillings (restorations), or teeth that are malformed or discoloured are all conditions which can affect your smile. A crown is a cap that is used to help restore or hold together a tooth that has been chipped or damaged.

Crowns can also cover a large filling to help keep it in place, and they provide structural protection for a tooth following root canal treatment. Multiple crowns are also used to hold a bridge (with a replacement missing tooth) in place. Their purpose is to restore each tooth to its normal shape and size, while both strengthening and improving its appearance.

A crown can be considered for a number of reasons:

• To restore fractured teeth
• To protect weak teeth from fracturing
• To repair a tooth when there is not enough original tooth remaining
• To conceal badly shaped or discoloured teeth
• To protect teeth from fracturing following root canal treatment
• To disguise extensive damage caused by decay
• To attach a bridge

Ceramic crowns are a common option used to create a crown because their material properties mimic natural teeth aesthetics. However, a crown can also be made of gold alloys or non-precious alloys, ceramic, acrylic (plastic), composite resin, or any combination of these.

Tooth location, the position of the gum tissue, the amount of tooth that shows in the smile, the colour and shade of the tooth, and the function of the tooth are all taken into consideration when choosing which material to use.

Having a crown fitted may require two to three dental visits. At the first appointment, the tooth to be crowned will be numbed and reduced in size to accommodate the crown, and then a mould of your tooth will be taken for the laboratory to use in the manufacture of the crown. A temporary crown will be placed over the tooth until the custom (final) crown is available.

Crowns are permanent fixtures, but they can occasionally come loose and need to be replaced. Caring for a crown requires proper dental and gum care as instructed by a dentist or hygienist.

Bridges

A bridge is a restoration that is used as one of the ways of replacing a missing tooth. There are two types of bridge: a conventional bridge or an adhesive bridge.

Conventional bridge

A false tooth is attached to a crown on one or both sides of a gap. It involves reducing the tooth (or teeth) to which the false tooth will be attached. The crowns are either made of gold, a non-precious metal, or a combination of metal and porcelain. The false tooth is usually made from tooth-coloured porcelain.

Once the teeth have been prepared, a mould (impression) of the affected teeth is made. This is sent to a laboratory for the bridge to be made which may take up to three weeks. In the meantime, to prevent any sensitivity, a temporary bridge covers the prepared teeth.

Once it has been manufactured, the bridge will be tried in place. It may require some adjustments before it is cemented on permanently.

The advantages of a conventional bridge are that it is strong and not removable. It is beneficial to the adjacent tooth when a crown is required for structural protection. The disadvantage is that it involves the drilling of the adjacent teeth to support and retain the false tooth which may not be necessary if the adjacent tooth is healthy.

Adhesive bridge (Resin bonded bridge)

A false tooth is attached to a metal wing which is then glued to the adjacent tooth.

With this type of bridge there is no (or only a small amount of) drilling of the adjacent teeth. An injection is usually not required. Once the teeth have been prepared, a mould is made and sent to a laboratory which makes the bridge. The bridge usually takes two weeks to make. No temporary bridge is required.

When using an adhesive bridge to replace a front tooth, the metal wing is bonded with a strong cement on to the back of the adjacent tooth and so cannot be seen from the front.

The advantages of an adhesive bridge are that it is not removable and requires very little drilling of the adjacent teeth. The disadvantage is that it sometimes falls off (though it is easily glued back on). An adhesive bridge might not be suitable for those who grind their teeth or who play contact sports.

A bridge is not always possible or suitable, for example if there are too many teeth missing or if the remaining teeth or gums are not healthy. In some instances, it may be best to leave a gap.

Alternative treatments to bridges include removable dentures (false teeth) or dental implants (screw-in teeth).

At White Light Prosthodontics, we will provide you with professional advice based on your individual needs. A treatment plan with cost estimates, materials and sequence will be provided prior to commencement of treatment.