Crowns & Bridges
Why Do You Need a Crown or a Bridge?
Crowns and bridges are fixed dental appliances to restore and replace damaged or missing teeth. They can also improve the shape, strength, bite and appearance of your teeth.
Modern crowns or bridges have a very natural appearance and are attached to your normal teeth. They can only be removed by your dentist. With good care, your crown or bridge should last up to 15 years and may last a lifetime.
A crown is a ceramic cap that covers the entire surface area of your tooth or implant peg.
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. They consist of an artificial tooth anchored to the natural teeth on either side of the gap.
What Happens During a Crown Fitting?
Crowns usually need two appointments for preparation and fitting.
At your first appointment, the dentist will prepare your tooth and take impressions for the dental lab.
After the area is numbed with a local anaesthetic, the tooth is shaped using a drill, making it smaller by one to two millimetres.
An impression is taken with your teeth in the biting position to record the shape of the tooth and how your teeth bite together.
You will be fitted with a temporary crown to wear until your new permanent crown is ready. As a temporary crown is not as strong as the final crown you should avoid sticky or hard foods for the time it takes the lab to make your new ceramic crown.
At your next appointment, your temporary crown will be removed and your permanent crown fitted.
What Happens During a Bridge Fitting?
Bridges usually need two appointments for preparation and fitting.
The steps in preparing and fitting a bridge are similar to those for a crown. The teeth on either side of the gap are shaped and impressions taken and sent to the lab. You will wear a temporary to protect your prepared surfaces until the bridge has been fabricated. The bridge will be ready to attach to your natural teeth in 10 days.
Tips to Maintain Your Crown or Bridge
While undergoing crown or bridge treatment minimise chewing on that side of your mouth to help protect your temporary restorations.
Avoid chewing gum, sticky or hard foods while your temporary crown is in place.
Continue to brush twice a day as normal, paying particular attention to your crown or bridge area.
While your temporary crown is in place, continue to floss once a day but pull the floss out from the side rather than straight up next to your temporary crown. Once your crown or bridge treatment has successfully been placed, your dentist will teach you how to keep your bridge clean.
Keep your regular dental maintenance check-up appointments so your dentist can monitor your crown or bridge.
Ready to Talk About Crowns or Bridges?
If you are looking for high-quality crowns or bridges, then book an appointment with Meg Bowtell Dentist in Alderley.