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Crowns and Bridges

A crown can be a better option when a tooth has broken or fractured substantially, has had multiple failed fillings, is showing extensive crack lines or has had a Root Canal Treatment.

Why do I need a Dental Crown on my Tooth?

When a tooth has broken or fractured substantially, has had multiple failed fillings, is showing extensive crack lines or has had a Root Canal Treatment, it is often a better choice to crown the tooth with a full veneer crown or a gold crown.

However this is not always the case. In recent years dentistry has become a lot more conservative, a Porcelain Onlay or inlay maybe a better option. Dr Barbara is also highly trained in White Fillings and is able to offer a highly durable conservative alternative.

People sometimes refer to crowns as “caps”. A Cap or a tooth Crown fits snug over the tooth it is restoring. The Crown forms a full 360 degree coverage around the tooth, hence holding the tooth together. This protects and prevents the tooth from further fracturing, cracking and breaking as it acts as a ring around the tooth. A crown can help preserve what remains of good tooth structure and prevent further tooth loss.

Crowns can be made from several materials.

Gold Crowns: Crowns were originally made from cast gold. Gold crowns are a very long lasting restorations that are very strong and durable in the mouth. But not everyone likes the colour gold for their teeth, so a process of “enamelling” was introduced.

PFM Crowns: Enamelling involves applying a layer of tooth coloured porcelain to the gold in order to give the crown a natural, tooth like appearance, whilst still retaining the strength benefits of the underlying gold. These crowns are called porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns, and are used mainly for molar (back) teeth.

All-Ceramic Crowns: More recently, advances in porcelain technologies have allowed crowns to be made without any gold at all. These crowns are called “all-ceramic crowns” and can be made from high strength porcelains such as Alumina and Zirconia. All-ceramic crowns can now be used on front and back teeth. They are more frequently used on front teeth as they have the highest aesthetic outcomes. However, all-ceramic crowns may not be indicated for all teeth.

Emax is one of the most beautiful ceramic crowns and today we can create wonderful aesthetic results with Emax, that mimic the natural teeth the best.

At Leichhardt Street Dental Practice our dentist can help you decide which crown material would be best suited for you. Or visit the Ceramist we use, Norio for a picture breakdown of the types of crowns.

Dental Crown Procedure:

When a tooth is prepared for a crown, the old filling is replaced and the tooth is fully shaped and prepared to create space for the crown. The initial appointment takes about 1 to 2 hours, the crown is made over a 1 to 3 week period and the final appointment is about 30 minutes. The preparation of the tooth is critical to the success of the crown. We are very precise in our cutting of the tooth and this can take a little extra time at the initial appointment.

At Leichhardt Street Dental Practice, we work with our local Dental Ceramists based on the Gold Coast to make the best possible crown. We do not send our dental crowns overseas but use local laboratories where we have maximum control over the entire process and the materials used.

Because our Ceramist is local he is very enthusiastic to create a perfect crown for you and will offer many more opportunities to perfect the crown.

How long should a crown last for?

On average, a crown should last between 10 and 15 years, and possibly longer.

What is a Tooth Bridge?

A bridge is what is sometimes used to replace your missing teeth or missing tooth. Bridges are less frequently recommended these days due to advances in Dental Implant Technology. But if you do not wish to have surgery and an implant or if it is decided an implant is not possible then a teeth bridge is another option. A bridge is made up of two crowns either side of the gap and then a replacement tooth in between to fill the gap.

The disadvantage of a dental bridge is that the teeth either side need to be cut to fit the bridge. This is not very conservative. Also, if one tooth fails, all three teeth often fail as they are all joined together, leaving you with an even bigger gap!

Another type of bridge is a Maryland. A Maryland is a more conservative bridge often used to replace the laterals (the teeth next to the very front teeth). This can be an excellent option particularly if you are genetically missing these teeth. It is much more conservative as it sticks to the backs of your natural teeth for support, and the amount these teeth are cut is minimal. Many Dentists are not trained in Maryland bridges, but Dr Barbara has been highly trained in their use whilst working with a Brisbane Specialist during her career.

To find out what your best dental crown option is Contact us today on (07) 3839 7279 or book in for a chat.

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