A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant and is typically bonded to the tooth using dental cement. Crowns are often used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth. A crown is useful for protecting the structure of the tooth that is cracked or broken. A crown can also be used to change the shape of a tooth, to correct a bite or cosmetic problem, or to replace existing broken or poor fitting crowns. A crown may be made of gold, other metals, or porcelain depending on individual preference.
Crowning is very useful in the cases when teeth are heavily decayed they may be too weak to survive with just a filling. When a tooth is heavily decayed it is more likely to fracture and lose considerable tooth substance. The greater risk is that a fracture line may go below the margin of the gum which makes restoration more difficult or near impossible. By placing a crown, a tooth may be given a new lease of life. Even when a single tooth is lost a denture may not be required as a bridge can be made which spans the gap with a tooth attached to those next to the space.
A dental bridge allows the dentist to replace lost teeth without the use of a denture or dental implant. Teeth can fall out due to disease, decay and physical trauma, but bridges can be inserted to reconstruct a person’s smile and make sure that they don’t suffer any of the negative effects associated with tooth loss. Basically a false tooth is held in place by being attached to a tooth next door.
Dental bridges are made from porcelain and usually have a metal substructure. There are a few different types of bridges: fixed bridges, bonded bridges and cantilever bridges.
Fixed bridges:
Fixed bridges are the most common type of bridge. When this type of bridge is inserted the two surrounding teeth must be affixed with crowns to hold it in place.
Bonded bridges:
Bonded bridges can be less expensive than fixed bridges, but they are usually only offered to people whose surrounding teeth are healthy and free of filings. This type of bridge is affixed to natural teeth with metal wings that are permanently fastened in place on either side of the bridge.
Cantilever bridges:
Cantilever bridges are often applied to front teeth. These bridges are also used when a person only has a natural tooth on one side of the bridge, instead of on both sides. Unlike other bridges, which need to be attached to both surrounding teeth, cantilever bridges are designed to adhere just to the one natural tooth beside the bridge.