Crowns

When a tooth is severely damaged and requires a large filling, the dentist may offer a crown to restore the tooth. Commonly called caps, there are various crowns available to choose from. The function of a crown is to restore anatomy and aesthetics (in most cases). The majority of crowns are made of porcelain supported on a hidden precious metal base, however all-porcelain crowns are now available.

A crown is also used on single implants. To achieve a perfect crown, you will be asked to visit the ceramist’s laboratory so that he or she could choose the perfect colour match for your new tooth.

Bridges

If you're missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking. There are options to help restore your smile. Bridges help maintain the shape of your face, as well as alleviating the stress in your bite by replacing missing teeth.

Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been.

The restoration can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. To achieve a perfect bridge, you will be asked to visit the ceramist’s laboratory so that he or she could choose the perfect colour match for your new teeth.

Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist. An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw. Its success depends on a strong foundation. So it's very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

For more info and FAQs on Crowns and Bridges please click here.