Crowns & Bridges at Loughton Dental Spa

Dental Crowns, bridges, and veneers

Crowns, bridges, and veneers

By restoring your old teeth, crowns preserve functionality and improve your smile. Crowns are commonly known as caps because they sit over your existing teeth to protect them or improve their appearance.


Why might I need crowns?

  • If your teeth have eroded the only option might be to crown them
  • If your tooth is decaying and there is not enough structure left to support a filling
  • If your tooth has been fractured beyond repair composite bonding will not work
  • If you have a large cavity and need additional protection
  • It is part of dental implant treatment to maintain function and appearance.
  • As part of a root canal treatment to protect the remaining tooth structure from fracture.

Crowns should not be the first choice because a large part of teeth has to be removed in order to perform the treatment. Veneers or dental bonding restorations might be a less invasive option.

There are a few crown materials available to choose from including full gold, metal, porcelain, and a combination – metals fused to porcelain or ceramic outer shell.

It depends on how well you look after your teeth. They require the same amount of care as your natural teeth.

Bridges

A dental bridge is a restoration that consists of one or more crowns joined to an artificial tooth to close a gap. The artificial tooth is known as a pontic.

Alternative designs of adhesive bridges may also be suitable in specific cases.

What are dental bridges made of?

Gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials

Your dentist will assess your teeth carefully and advise you on the types of bridge which are most suitable for you

When are dental bridges needed?

Types of bridges

There are three main types of dental bridges:

1. Traditional fixed bridge

Traditionally, the most commonly used bridge, fixed bridges, cannot be removed. They consist of the tooth being fused between two porcelain crowns that are anchored on neighbouring teeth or implants.

2. Resin-bonded bridges, adhesive or Maryland bridges

These may be suitable (site-specific) when the tooth on either side of the missing tooth is strong and healthy. The false tooth is often made of metal-ceramic and is fused to a metal ‘wing’ that is bonded to the adjacent tooth using resin that is hidden from view.

3. Cantilever bridges

These might be chosen if the missing tooth is at the front. Cantilever bridges may be used to one or more when there are teeth present on only one side of the space, where the false tooth is anchored to an adjacent tooth.