What are dental crowns and dental bridges?
Your dentist uses crowns and bridges as dental restorations to replace missing teeth. These restorations are natural-looking replacements that can be used for a single missing tooth or a section of teeth.
Dental crowns and bridges are often used together. A bridge generally consists of a tooth replacement in the middle and two crowns at either side, that literally bridge the gap of missing teeth. This is effective if the 'abutment' teeth (the teeth on either side of the missing tooth) are sound and healthy enough to support a dental bridge.
Crowns
The strength and appearance of a tooth can be restored with dental crown caps. They can protect weak teeth, restore broken teeth, cover teeth that are misshapen or discoloured, and secure dental bridges. Crowns can be made of stainless steel, a metal (such as gold), porcelain and metal, resin, or ceramic.
Bridges
Bridges are dental appliances that incorporate crowns and artificial teeth. They help to stabilize surrounding teeth, ensuring they don't shift out of place and fill the gap of missing teeth.
Benefits
- Dental crowns and bridges help support facial tissue
- They can make speaking and eating easier
- They prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth, which can improve your long-term oral health
- They can renew your confidence when smiling with a more uniform appearance
Placing Crowns & Bridges
Your dentist will prepare healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. This involves shaping them to the required shape and size to allow for the crowns to be placed.
Placing a dental bridge is not surgical, and patients are awake during the procedure. If, however, you suffer from dental anxiety, your dentist might share techniques to reduce your fear or suggest dental sedation as a way to help you relax. Speak to your dentist to see if this is a solution for you.
To make sure that your bridge fits your mouth properly, your dentist will take measurements and imprints of the surrounding teeth. In some cases, temporary crowns may be made which would need to be removed when the permanent one is being placed.
Your dentist will numb the area receiving the crowns and bridge by using local anesthesia. The bridge will then be cemented in place.
In the case of multiple missing teeth or teeth that aren't able to support the bridge, the bridge could be anchored to dental implants. Your dentist will discuss your options with you.
What to Expect
Recovery time is usually short, with most people adapting to their new replacement teeth immediately.
Crowns and bridges need to be brushed and flossed daily, just like natural teeth. They are quite durable and can withstand normal use such as biting and chewing. If you take proper care of them, they should last about 10 years, making crowns and bridges a great long-term solution for missing teeth.