Crowns, Bridges & Dentures
A crown is a type of dental restoration used to fix teeth that have been broken, weakened by decay or have a very large filling. The crown fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. It can be made in metal or be tooth coloured, giving the restoration a more natural appearance so it fits in with the rest of your teeth. A crown could be a good solution for you if you have some discoloured fillings and would like to improve their appearance. Crowns can be used to replace these to give you a more aesthetic smile. Also, if you have had root canal treatment you will need a crown to protect or cap the restored tooth, allowing you to eat and bite down on it as if it was a real tooth. Crowns are also used to anchor a bridge or denture firmly in place in the mouth.
Bridges
Dental bridges are a fixed replacement for missing teeth. The two teeth either side of the bridge usually need to be ‘prepared’ to support the bridge and this usually involves recontouring the teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. It’s made by then taking an impression of the surrounding teeth and the laboratory would then create a prosthetic that fills the gap, perfectly matching the surrounding teeth. Restoring teeth using a bridge usually involves wearing a temporary bridge for a short period whilst the final restoration is made at our dental laboratory. Some bridges can also be fixed to your jaw with dental implants, if you have several teeth next to each other that are missing. Once you have a bridge fitted, you will have to take extra care of your daily hygiene regime to ensure it stays plaque free so that you can prevent bad breath.
Dentures
If you have a few or all of your teeth missing, one solution is to have a denture. A denture is made from hard-wearing material that mimics the look of teeth and gums to give your mouth a natural appearance. Your denture will be made to fit snugly on your gums and you will be able to remove it for cleaning. Dentures can either be FULL or PARTIAL.
FULL dentures replace entire arches of missing teeth.
A PARTIAL is denture is designed to replace one or a small number of missing teeth. The denture is shaped and coloured to blend in with your natural teeth, helping to restore the function of the mouth and prevent neighbouring teeth from becoming mis-aligned. The aim of dentures is to restore the full function of the mouth, allowing you to speak clearly and eat normally. They are custom-made for every individual and are designed to look and function exactly like your natural teeth. When you wear a denture for the first time it may take some getting used to when speaking or eating and chewing. It is important that you take extra care in your hygiene regime so that you can avoid bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. The dentist will be able to show you how to best take care of your denture and gums and will tell you about specialised brushes you can use to do this.
