Crowns & Bridges
Are you worried about going to your dentist and getting a crown or bridge? Don’t be, the practice couldn’t be safer or simpler, here you will find all the information you may need to learn about crowns and bridge procedures.
What is a dental crown?
A crown is a cosmetic dental procedure where a ‘cap’ is added to a damaged tooth or teeth. This can be used to straighten out a tooth and they are commonly used to improve the overall appearance of a tooth or teeth by adding to its shape, colour and alignment.
Reasons for restoring teeth with crowns are:
- To strengthen a badly broken or weak tooth,
- Worn and fractured teeth can be restored to their original condition.
- Spaces can be filled and a give a more regular appearance.
- To improve the appearance of a badly broken down
- Highly discoloured and stained teeth can be repaired and restored,
- Poorly positioned teeth can be built forward improving a patient’s bite.
- To support the bridge which may be replacing other missing teeth.
- The Procedure
To add a crown, your dentist will prepare the tooth creating a custom moulded impression of the patient’s teeth to send to a dental laboratory. In the meantime, a temporary crown is created during the initial visit to your dentist. This will temporarily protect the tooth while the final restoration is being made in the laboratory. Once completed, the crown can be permanently cemented or bonded at a later visit.
The Aftercare
After your permanent crown has been added, The dentist should provide you with appropriate information about caring for your new crown. This may include a guide to maintaining proper oral hygiene habits, visit Mouth Healthy for more information.
By brushing twice daily and flossing once to twice a day, maintaining these healthy practices will remove plaque and bacteria from the area where the crown meets the gum. Doing this should prevent decay and risks of gum disease.
In the first few days after getting your crown, we recommend avoiding hard chewy foods, ice or other hard objects, since this might damage your crown. It is also very important to avoid fingernail biting and grinding your teeth, This may shorten the lifespan of your crown.
If the patient has a habit of grinding their teeth, The dentist may recommend a night-time mouth guard or other forms of mouth protection for use while sleeping.
What is a Bridge?
A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing multiple teeth. Gaps will be left after tooth loss and may eventually cause the remaining teeth to move, rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite, A bad bite may impact how a person might enjoy foods and lead to a toothache in some instances.
The Procedure
Before a dentist adds a bridge, the tooth or teeth may need to be reduced in size allowing the bridge to appropriately fit over it effectively. After reducing the tooth or teeth, The dentist should make an impression of the mouth to provide an exact mould for the bridge.
Bridges can be long-lasting, they can come loose and in some instances, fall out. The most important step you can take to ensure your bridge lasts is to practice good oral hygiene. A study done by University of Rochester Medical Center says your bridge could last up to ten years with proper care.
The Aftercare
After a patient receives their crown or bridge, We recommend that the patient is mindful and careful not to;
- Avoid biting your tongue or the inside of the cheeks until the anaesthetic has worn off.
- Avoid eating chewy foods until the numbness has worn off.
- If the temporary crown becomes dislodged or feels uncomfortable, please call us to get this repaired as soon as possible.
- Do not attempt to re-glue the temporary crown back in or prolong getting this fixed, this may result in tooth sensitivity and pain, the tooth may swell and shift slightly, this could prevent the placement of the permanent crown. Call us and book an appointment with your dentist as soon as you.
