Crowns and Bridges

We may recommend a crown when your tooth is fractured, has a large, old filling, or is severely damaged by decay. Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can also improve the appearance of your smile. 

Crowns are essentially fortification helmets or shells that are made out of gold, high strength porcelain fused to gold or zirconia ceramics that strengthen the tooth and also restore fully the look and feel of a natural tooth once cemented onto the tooth. 
 

                                                               

We may recommend a bridge if you are missing one or more teeth. Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth on either sides of the empty space.

Before a crown or bridge can be made, the tooth/teeth must be reduced in size so that the crown or bridge will fit properly. Once the dentist has reduced the size of the tooth/teeth, the dentist will take a mould of your teeth. 
A temporary crown or bridge will be put in place to cover the prepared tooth/teeth while the permanent crown or bridge is being made by a professional laboratory.

Once the permanent crown or bridge is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary crown or bridge and the permanent crown or bridge is cemented over the prepared tooth/teeth. 

Your new crown or bridge can also be matched with to the colour of your natural teeth. Fitting of a crown or bridge usually requires at least two dental visits.