Restore Your Teeth

If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist may recommend that you get an ‘artificial’ replacement.

The first option is a removable option, as in a denture. These need to be taken out to clean and at night, and will also have some movement, or fall out, as they are not ‘stuck in. This may not be your choice as a result.

The second option is a bridge. A bridge usually needs to be attached to sound teeth on either side of a gap, and these teeth would then need to be shaped to fit the bridge over to hold it in place. This is a fixed replacement of a tooth but does involve some preparation of the tooth holding the bridge in, so may not be the first choice if that tooth has no fillings in it. 

Rather than an implant, which involves placing an artificial root into the bone and then affixing a crown over. This is more expensive, but doesn’t involve any other teeth and is fixed in place.

The bridge and the implant, function more like your natural tooth.

This can all be discussed at your appointment where we will break down the similarities, differences, advantages and disadvantages of each so that even if you have a fake tooth, you will still have a smile that is as real as can be.

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Crowns

A crown is used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function.

Nowadays, with the advancement in dental technology most crowns are made of ceramic to mimic the appearance and beauty of a healthy natural tooth.

Bridges

A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and jaw joint problems.

A bridge spans the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. Your dentist can help you decide if this is a suitable option for you, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost. Ceramic bridges can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth.

While crowns and bridges can last for many years, they do sometimes come loose or fall out. The most important step you can take to ensure the longevity of your crown or bridge is to practice good oral hygiene. A bridge can lose its support if the teeth or bone holding it in place are damaged by dental disease. Keep your gums and teeth healthy by brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily. It is also very important to see your dentist and hygienist regularly for check-ups and a professional cleaning to protect the investment you have made in your smile.

Questions & Answers

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.

I don't want really white false looking teeth, do crowns look false?

No, good crowns look highly realistic and can match your 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.

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 recreated 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.

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