Crowns and bridges are common dental procedures and can be used to treat a variety of dental issues, including replacing missing teeth and restoring cracked or broken teeth. They can also be used to restore teeth with large cavities that aren’t candidates for fillings. Crowns and bridges can even alter the overall look of your teeth for cosmetic purposes. Reach out to Holistic Dental Donvale today to learn more about our crown and bridge services, or just keep reading.
All About Crowns
If you have damaged a single tooth or have had root canal therapy, you’ll likely receive a crown on top of what is left of your existing tooth. The goal of a crown is to mimic the shape of a natural tooth as closely as possible so that it functions properly within your mouth. Dental crowns can be made from a range of materials, including porcelain, composite resin and ceramic, to name a few. Metal crowns are also available, though they are not as common these days as they were in the past.
How Bridges Work
Bridges, also called fixed partial dentures, are designed to permanently replace missing teeth. They can also be used when the underlying tooth is too damaged or weak to support a crown. You may need to have the damaged tooth surgically removed before being fitted for the bridge to eliminate any disease or decay around it. The bridge itself consists of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the missing one, along with a false tooth in the middle. The crowns serve to anchor the bridge in your mouth, and durable metal holds it all together.
What to Expect When You Get Dental Crowns and Bridges in Donvale
The processes for creating and applying dental crowns and bridges are relatively similar, so we’ll discuss the two together. When you first arrive for your appointment, your dentist will take x-rays and images of your teeth to create a 3-D model. This way, they can mould the crown to fit comfortably in your mouth.
The next step is to prepare the teeth to accept the crown or bridge. For a bridge, you may need the centre tooth pulled first. For the teeth that will be receiving the crowns, your dentist will file down the top of the tooth and add a post to hold the crown. At this appointment, you’ll get a temporary cap to cover the tooth while your dentist models and creates your crown or bridge.
You’ll come back to our office about two weeks later to have the permanent crown installed. We’ll cement it into place, and the cement will cure in about an hour, reaching its full hardness after 24 hours. Try to avoid any foods that are especially hard or sticky until you are sure the crown or bridge has set fully. You can expect both crowns and bridges to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years, depending on the material used and how well you take care of them and the rest of your mouth. Often it is the underlying tooth or gums that degenerate rather than the crowns themselves.
Affordable Bridges and Dental Crowns in Melbourne
At Holistic Dental Donvale, we strive to keep the costs for our bridges and dental crowns in Donvale as affordable as possible without sacrificing quality. We’ll be happy to schedule you in for an exam and consultation to discuss your dental needs, so get in touch with us today to get started!
