A crown is an artificial cap which fits over the prepared tooth in order to restore broken or decayed teeth which are too damaged to be replaced with fillings.
Crowns are strong and can look and feel exactly like a natural tooth. The colour and shape can be matched to your own teeth.
Inlays and onlays
Longer for an alternative to fillings?
Inlays and onlays come highly recommended. Fillings start soft and are carved to shape in the mouth. Inlays and onlays are made outside the mouth in a dental lab and then glued to the teeth in the dental clinic.
What are the benefits?
Onlays and inlays are strong and can last longer than fillings. They can be colour matched to your other teeth. They are especially suitable for the chewing surfaces of back teeth and for large repairs to front teeth where it can be difficult to make a white filling look natural. An onlay is a partial crown which preserves healthy teeth.
Dental bridges
The best way to restore space today is by using dental implants. However, in cases where these are not suitable, we would use a bridge. A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth by fixing the replacement to the natural teeth at each side of the gap. Some bridges have crowns at each end. Others are fixed to the surface of the teeth beside the gap. Sometimes a bridge is only fixed to the teeth on one side of the gap.
Bridges are made of metal or porcelain, or porcelain only. When preparing teeth for a bridge we endeavor to avoid damaging healthy tooth structure where possible.
What are the benefits?
With a bridge, you hardly notice missing teeth. A bridge can improve the way you look, bite, chew and speak. The teeth can be matched to the colour of your own teeth.
Keep your bridge clean and it can last many years if there is no accidental damage.
Natural teeth are protected from wear and tear, and from moving or tilting out of line. Moves and tilts can cause an incorrect bite.
If both implants and bridges are unsuitable, why not try a partial denture. The dentist will explain the chances of success with a bridge. If the supporting teeth are not strong enough a denture might be a better treatment choice. If teeth have just been extracted a denture might be made first. A bridge can be fitted later when the gum has healed.
Is a bridge the best option for you? Call now on 01296 730 260
