Crown & Bridges

Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic materials. Unlike removable materials such as dentures, which you can take out and clean regularly, bridges and crowns are joined onto implants or existing teeth. It can only be removed or adjusted by a dentist. A crown is used to cover the whole damaged tooth. Besides regaining a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to change or adjust its appearance, shape and alignment. A crown can also be installed on top of an implant to get the shape and structure of a tooth for its function. Ceramic or porcelain crowns can resemble the colour of natural teeth.

A bridge may be suggested if one or more teeth is missing. Gaps left by missing teeth cause the remaining teeth to shift or rotate into the gaps, which results in a bad bite. Bridges are joined to the implants or natural teeth surrounding the gap. These teeth are called abutments which serve as support for the bridge. The replacement tooth called pontic is joined to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you can select the material for bridges. Your dentist can assist you to decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth, its function, aesthetic concerns and price.