Faqs of CROWNS, BRIDGES, VENEERS

What is a dental crown?
A dental crown completely encases a damaged tooth within a custom-design, custom-fit cap that fits perfectly over the damaged tooth. The crown thereby restores full functionality to a tooth that may have been cracked, had excessive decay, or had root canal therapy.

What material is a dental crown made from?
There are three primary types of dental crown materials: All-ceramic (porcelain), porcelain-fused-to-metal, or gold.

What is a dental cap?
A dental cap is just another term for a dental crown.

What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a device used to replace a missing tooth by placing an artificial tooth between two adjacent teeth and permanently affixing it to the adjacent teeth. There are several types of dental bridges, but each is custom-made to fit the patient’s arch. Dental bridges require that the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth be shaped to accept the bridge. Crowns are placed on the shaped teeth and attached to the new artificial tooth, forming a bridge.

When are dental bridges used?
If a single tooth is missing between two other teeth, a dental bridge can be used. For years, the dental bridge was the most reliable way to replace a single missing tooth. Today, advances in dental implants make them a popular choice for replacing a single tooth because a dental implant doesn’t impact the adjacent teeth and preserves the bone in the area of the missing tooth.

What are dental bridges side effects?
Dental bridge side effects are generally rare. Like any procedure that involves your gums, there a risk of gum infection or inflammation, but that is rare. Your dentist will also consult with you prior to the procedure to assure you don’t have allergies to the materials being used.
The biggest issue isn’t a side effect, but the fact that with a dental bridge two healthy teeth need to be altered to replace one missing tooth. A dental bridge is a permanent device that requires two healthy teeth adjacent the missing tooth to be shaped to accept the crowns of the new dental bridge.

What are the alternatives to dental bridges?
Dental Implants are the standard of care for replacing missing teeth today. With dental implants, you can choose a single tooth implant, restore several missing teeth or restore all your teeth. While dental implants are more costly than dental bridges, the benefits are significantly greater, like not needing to modify nearby healthy teeth or replace the bridge years down the road.

How long do crowns, veneers or bridges last?
It depends on the health of the tooth and how efficiently you clean the teeth and not 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 dont want really white false looking teeth, do crowns look false?
No, good crowns look highly realistic and can match to you 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.

How long does treatment take?
This will depend on your situation and clinical needs. A good quality restoration will take several weeks to be manufactured meaning that you will need at least two appointments several weeks apart. You have a temporary crown or bridge in the mean time. Quality work cannot be done in short spaces of time.

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 recreat 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.