Choosing between Dental Crowns and Bridges is an important decision – it is worth taking your time to understand the differences and benefits each can provide. Crowns cover an existing tooth, while a bridge fills a space caused by a lost tooth or multiple teeth.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is an excellent long-term treatment to strengthen weakened teeth, which can occur if a tooth or filling becomes weakened or cracked. Crowns are also an effective way of improving the appearance of a tooth.
Dental Bridges
Dental Bridges are a common solution for people missing one or more teeth. They are custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth and can be made from various materials, including porcelain, gold, or a combination of materials.
The process of getting a bridge involves two appointments with the dentist. During the first appointment, the teeth on either side of the gap are prepared by removing a small portion of enamel; this is necessary to create room for the crowns to hold the bridge in place.
Next, the dentist will take impressions of the teeth and send them to a dental lab where the bridge will be fabricated. The bridge will match the colour and shape of the patient’s natural teeth to look as natural as possible.
The bridge will be fitted and adjusted for a comfortable and secure fit during the second appointment. The dentist will then cement the bridge in place using dental cement. With proper care, a bridge can last for many years and restore the patient’s ability to eat and speak correctly while improving their smile’s appearance.
It’s important to note that bridges require good oral hygiene practices to prevent decay and gum disease around the bridge. Regular brushing and flossing and professional cleanings are essential for maintaining the health of the teeth and gums supporting the bridge.
At Horsham Dental, we’re proud of our high success rate with crown insertions, enabling you to keep the tooth for a long time. Our success rate results from the great care we take in obtaining a perfect impression to make the crown, so we can be confident it will be a good fit.
The latest computer scanning technology allows us to match your crown shade to your exact requirements, so your crown can blend perfectly and won’t be noticeable when you smile! We ensure you are given the right crown for your needs and will blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
The procedure is as follows:
- Shape the tooth to receive the crown
- Take an impression of the tooth and then place a temporary crown
- Return two weeks later to bond the crown in place.
Usually, this requires two appointments, but occasionally more, depending on your needs – we will discuss the process in more detail at your first consultation.
Dr Mark Setters, Crown
Dr Mark Setters BDS has over 20 years of experience and has performed over 5,000 successful crown procedures.
There is no crown situation that we haven’t seen! We’re well-equipped to handle any issue.
Choosing the correct type of crown for you
There are dozens of different types of crowns, so knowing which type of crown you should choose can feel overwhelming, so most people look to their dental professional for expertise and guidance. We’ll be on hand throughout the process to help you – at Dental Healthcare Practice, we want you to have the perfect crown to blend in with your natural smile. We have over 20 years of experience in making and fitting crowns for all types of situations, and we will talk you through the process in detail so you’re fully aware of how fitting a crown works.
What type of crown we recommend for you will depend on several factors and your preferences – you may want to focus on crown strength, or perhaps natural appearance is your priority. Prices vary depending on the crown type, so affordability might be something else you’ll need to consider. We offer a range of options to suit all factors and budgets.
Four Types of Crowns
The four main types of crowns are porcelain-based ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, gold alloys and base metal alloys. We recommend gold and metal alloys for durability, but ceramic crowns are usually the most popular for front teeth because they blend more naturally with your tooth colour. The hybrid alternative of porcelain fused to metal offers good strength characteristics and an essential aesthetic covering on the front of the tooth.
As you can see, there are several choices, and the position of the tooth requiring a crown may determine the style you choose. Most importantly, we want to stress that if you need a Crown, you don’t need to worry – we’ll be able to provide you with a natural, long-lasting solution. We’ll explain all the choices to you in an easy-to-understand way and give you the valuable advice you need to make the right choice according to your circumstances and needs.
Quality of the technician making the crown
We only use the highest quality technicians in the UK, which mean that the materials used in the crowns are fully traceable, with no risk of impurities which can cause health problems over time.
We are not “tied” to a laboratory, so we choose the best technicians for the different crown types.
“My new crown looks and feels like a real tooth – it’s amazing!” – Patient Testimonial.
If you want a crown or bridge treatment plan, don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.
