Crowns and Bridges
A crown is a cap over the tooth. It is used for many instances including if there is a crack in the tooth, a large hole or decay, a missing filling, a worn down/ eroded tooth or after a root canal procedure. It is essentially used to re-strengthen the tooth similar to its original strength. Without a crown, it is possible that a tooth can crack or fracture further, resulting in that tooth needing to be removed.
At Super Smiles Dental we use only the highest strength of ceramics and metals in order to reconstruct the tooth to its original shape and strength. Each tooth is different, and we custom make each crown to fit the needs of that tooth.
A bridge is when there is a missing tooth and crowns are placed over the teeth adjacent to the gap. The crowns are bonded together to close the gap and allow the patient to smile and function as if there is a natural tooth in that position.
Always talk to your dentist first, to see if a crown or bridge is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions - Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that is placed over a tooth to fully encase the visible portion of the tooth that sits above the gum line. As the cap is shaped like a tooth, it covers the tooth, helping to restore its shape and size while also improving appearance.
Placing a crown over a tooth may be recommended by your dentist for a variety of reasons. These reasons include: to replace a large filling where there isn’t enough tooth remaining, to protect a weak tooth from fracturing, to cover a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, or, to hold a dental bridge in place.
Permanent crowns can be made from stainless steel, metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin or ceramic. The type of crown your dentist recommends will vary on a case by case basis. For example, metal crowns are a good choice for out of sight molars while porcelain crowns can be used on all teeth as they better match a tooth’s natural colour.
Typically, preparing a tooth for a crown will involve two visits to the dentist. The first step involves examining and preparing the tooth. This will require X-rays and in some cases, where a tooth has extensive decay, root canal treatment to be performed.
During this visit, the dentist will reshape the affected tooth to make room for the crown, and make an impression of the tooth. These impressions will then be sent to a dental lab where the crown will be made.
During this visit, your dentist will make a temporary crown to protect the tooth in the interim.
At the second visit to the dentist, the temporary crown will be removed and the final permanent crown will be cemented.
As each person will require a crown made up of different materials, costs can vary. You can expect to pay between $1000 and $1,500 for a single dental crown. A Super Smiles Dental team member will be able to give you a more accurate estimate upon consultation.
Getting a dental crown is a painless process. Thanks to dental numbing, pressure is the only sensation you might feel during the process of receiving a crown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are a prosthetic device used to fill dental gaps that have been created by one or more missing teeth. Dental bridges are mounted onto existing teeth or implants and cemented into shape, bridging the gap to create a natural looking smile.
There are three main types of dental bridges. Firstly, traditional bridges. It is the most commonly used type of bridge and is made of either porcelain fused to metal, or ceramic. The crown is created for the tooth on either side of the gap with an imitation tooth in between.
There are also cantilever bridges which are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth. This type of bridge is best suited for teeth at the back of the mouth where it can’t place force on other teeth.
Finally, there are maryland bridges. These are resin-bonded bridges that attach a fake tooth to just one side of the adjacent tooth. This means that adjacent teeth do not need to be filled.
Firstly, one of Super Smile’s dentists will prepare the teeth adjacent to the gap for treatment, reshaping where necessary to allow room for the bridge. Impressions of your teeth will then be made and sent to a dental lab to ensure a proper fit and colour match.
The dentist will then make a temporary bridge to wear in the meantime. Once the bridge arrives from the lab, it will be checked and adjusted for a perfect fit.
Depending on the type of bridge you opt for and the number of teeth involved, the cost of a bridge in Australia can vary from $1500 upwards.
A dental bridge can be removed and reused. Loose bridges can be easily removed and repaired. However, the cement used to bond a bridge in place is designed to last which means that it is not always possible to remove a bridge without causing damage to the surrounding teeth.
Getting a dental bridge should not cause any pain. This is because during the procedure, the area being treated will be numbed and only some minimal pressure will be felt.
How Super Smiles Dental Can Help
With a brand new, state-of-the-art practice, you can be sure that Super Smiles Dental not only offers the latest dental technology, but knows how to use it in order to get the best results for our patients time after time.
With experienced dentists skilled in treating all types of patients, you can be sure that Super Smiles Dental will look after you. For more information on dental crowns and bridges, contact us today.
