Dental Crowns and Bridges

The professional team at Redmyre are ably qualified to conduct both the crowning and bridging procedures. Many people wonder what these procedures are? Who need them and what they will cost?

What are Tooth Crowns?

A dental tooth crown is a capping that is used to cover a damaged tooth. It adds protection and restoration by filling the gap left by the damaged tooth. They are used for a number of conditions including large cavities, root canal, chipped or cracked teeth. A crown is usually produced using a mould of the existing structure of the specific tooth. The cap (or crown) is usually cemented onto the top of the remaining tooth structure, hence it's name crown (since it sits on top of the existing tooth)

Who Need Tooth Crowns?

There are a number of conditions that would require a tooth crown. One of the most common ones is after losing a tooth or having root canal treatment, a crown is used to sit on top of the newly inserted artificial root and completes a replacement artificial tooth. A chipped or cracked tooth also requires a crown, the crown will cover the missing section of tooth and provide extra strength to prevent further damage. Other reasons include replacing a filling when there is more filling than tooth, covering over a discoloured tooth, or to enable inserting a bridge.

Do I Need Tooth Crowns?

There are two major benefits from tooth crowns, dental health and cosmetic appearance. If you have damage to your back teeth you will require a crown to help prevent further damage, if a chipped or cracked tooth is left without repair, it is likely to sustain further damage and is susceptible to decay in the cavities left by the damage.

Unlike your back teeth, when chewing your front teeth are not usually strained with large amounts of pressure, but are the ones that are used in your smile. Therefore chips, cracks or root canal can look rather unsightly on your front teeth. Usually crowns are used on front teeth to make that smile on your face as complete as it can be. Hence, front crowns should always be colour matched to your other teeth.

What are Bridges?

Bridges are a replacement tooth used when there is no tooth or root remaining; they are able to be used if the neighbouring teeth are still in place. They then "bridge" the gap between the two existing teeth. 

Do I Need Bridges?

Bridges are used to prevent the other teeth from moving which can lead to further complications such as a bad bite. They also protect the gums from damage and decay where the missing tooth would have been. A bridge is needed if a tooth is to be removed completely, and the surrounding teeth are able to stay.

What is the Difference Between a Crown and a Bridge?

A crown is a cap on a remaining damaged tooth, a bridge is used to fill a gap where there is no remaining tooth.