Dental Crowns and Bridges

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth – covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance.

The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.

Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?

A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:

1. To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth

2. To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down

3. To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left

4. To hold a dental bridge in place

5. To cover severely damaged or discolored teeth

6. To cover a dental implant

What Types of Crowns Are Available?

Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, or all ceramic.

• Metals used in crowns include gold alloy or a base-metal alloy (for example, nickel or chromium). The metallic color is the main drawback and the material is less gum friendly. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be colour matched to your adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). However, sometimes the metal underlying the crown's porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.

• All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural color and are most esthetic match than any other crown type , are most esthetic, most gum friendly, and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. Most commonly given metal free crowns include Procera, Lava, Cercon, Empress.

Bridges (Fixed Partial Dentures)

A fixed (permanent) bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth either side of the gap, and attaching artificial teeth to them. The "bridge" is then cemented into place.