CROWN
A crown, commonly known as a “cap” , is a cover for the tooth, which can be used to protect, strengthen and often improve the aesthetic appearance of a tooth. It can be used in instances where there is extensive tooth damage due to decay, fracture or trauma.
Steps involved in a crown are
Appointment 1
1) The tooth or teeth must be prepared or reduced in size so that the crown will fit perfectly, without feeling like it’s too big
2) A digital scan is taken of the prepared tooth and is send off to the dental laboratory where the porcelain crown is made
3) In the meantime, your dentist will place a temporary
crown so that you look exactly the same as when you walked into our practice. This will remain in place for a few days until your final crown is made at the laboratory
4) finally a shade is taken to colour match the crown to your other teeth so that it blends in and looks natural
Appointment 2
The temporary crown material is removed and the prepared tooth is cleaned yp
The new crown restoration is tried in for coloaur match and fit.
Then the crown is bonded to the natural tooth with a luting cement
Crowns can be placed
1)if you have some discoloured fillings and would like to improve their appearance.
2) If the patient has had root canal treatment they will need a crown to protect the restored weak tooth
3)Crowns are also used to anchor a bridge or denture firmly in place in the mouth.
BRIDGE
A missing tooth (or teeth) can be replaced with a bridge to restore a patient's smile and function. A bridge includes neighbouring teeth as support which are joined to the tooth in the centre to fill the gap.
A bridge can be made of porcelain, zirconia or porcelain fused to metal.
The procedure to fabricate a bridge is very similar to that of making a crown.
Appointment 1 - Tooth preparation
The teeth will then be trimmed down slightly, and digital impression is taken of the tooth and sent to the laboratoru
Appointment 2 - Bridge fit check and cementation of Bridge
The bridge will be placed and the fit and colour will be checked before the final cementation of the bridge.
DENTURES
Another way to replace missing teeth is to make a denture
A denture is made from acrylic material that mimics the look of teeth and gums to give your mouth a natural appearance.
Every denture is custom made to suit every individual’s needs, such as shape, colour and size of the teeth, to ensure a comfortable fit.
When wearing a denre for the first time it is important to understand that it can taken time to get adjusted tospeaking or eating with it in place. Dentures are removable appliances and should be removed daily for cleaning. You will be shown how to take care of your denture and our gums.
Implant Retained/Supported Dentures:
Implant retained/supported dentures are a type of over-denture that is supported by and attached to implants, that replace missing teeth including the root. They look and feel natural, and have the assurance of not becoming loose or slipping out when eating or talking.
With the advancement in dental implants, removable, uncomfortable and painful dentures are no longer the only alternative. Implants are not only available for single tooth replacement but three, four or an entire upper and lower arch, restoring your mouth to its natural appearance.
IMPLANTS
For suitable patients, dental implants are often the best treatment option for heavily compromised or missing teeth.
Missing teeth can cause the lips and face to collapse, giving a premature aged appearance, as the bony structure that was once supporting a tooth or teeth have deteriorated.
A dental implant is a medical grade titanium post, which is precisely placed into your jaw bone and gum. Once this has integrated into the bone, then we can proceed with attaching a crown, bridge or fixed denture to replace one or more missing teeth
Once the process is complete, dental implants look & function like healthy, natural teeth. Loose and uncomfortable dentures can now be replaced with something that is permanent and feels like part of you.