Our Dental crown and bridge treatments can help you get back to talking, laughing, eating, and engaging in social situations without having to worry about your smile. Our crowns and bridges can restore the appearance of your smile and maintain the functionality of your teeth, allowing you to chew:

• Properly, and
• Comfortably.

Crowns and bridges are robust and reliable, and in most cases they:

• Will last many years
• Feel like natural teeth, and
• Look very much like natural teeth!

Note: Without treatment, gaps left in the mouth can result in teeth shifting and becoming misaligned. To make things worse, there is also the increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Bridges have been an integral part of modern Dentistry since the early part of the last century and prior to the use of implants was the preferred method for replacing teeth. My Gentle Dentist use the latest technology to provide you the best crown and bridge materials suited to your personal budget.

Dental crowns and bridges is a great way to restore the natural look and function to your damaged teeth. Book an appointment with us now to check if you are eligible for crowns or bridges and be prepared to regain your confidence and show off your new smile!

Crowns and bridges are a fixed solution to missing or damaged teeth. This restorative procedure uses prosthetic devices to return your smile to its natural state. Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, which you can take out and clean daily, crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants and can only be removed by a Dentist. Bridges are ideal for people who don’t like dentures and only have a few teeth missing. Bridges are usually made by putting a crown on the teeth on either side of the gap and attaching a false tooth in the middle.

Note: A Dental bridge is not a very conservative procedure and is definitely not a Dentists preferred option unless all other options have been ruled out.

The only way to know for sure if you need a crown is to ask your Dentist to examine the tooth you’re worried about.

Crowns and bridges are used to repair a number of different Dental problems.

• A crown is indicated if your tooth has a:
• Large Existing filling with a compromised tooth structure.
• Crack/Fracture lines running through the visible part of the tooth and you have no symptoms of pain/ discomfort in the tooth.
• Large gap between 2 neighbouring teeth.
• Root Canal Treated tooth that is being discoloured or appearing to have cracks.
• Large filling that keeps falling off too often.
• Tooth that is not Aesthetic, Rotated, Short in Height.

A bridge is used:

To replace a missing tooth or teeth. It is also a possible solution when dentures are unstable, uncomfortable or aesthetically displeasing. Bridges are less frequently recommended these days due to advances in Dental Implant Technology. But if you do not wish to have surgery and an implant or if it is decided an implant is not possible then a teeth bridge is another option. Once you explain to your Dentist the result you would like to achieve, they will be able to tell you exactly what is, and is not, possible in your situation.

Consult with your Dentist ASAP if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Visibly damaged teeth
• Consistent or intermittent tooth pain
• Teeth that are very sensitive to temperature
• Pain when brushing your teeth
• Pain when chewing
• Swollen gums, lips, or jaw
• Bleeding teeth or gums
• Other unexplained tooth pain.

To find out if you are a suitable candidate for a crown or bridge, it’s essential that you are assessed by a Dentist.

When it comes to teeth replacement, generally, there are three options:

1. Removable Dental appliance (complete denture or partial denture)
2. Fixed Dental bridge (cemented)
3. Dental implant.

On the right is a quick comparison table to show you the differences at a glance:

A removable partial denture usually has replacement teeth attached to a metal or acrylic (plastic) base that matches the colour of your gums. Partial dentures often have some form of clasp that attaches to your natural teeth and can easily be taken out of your mouth for cleaning or storing while you sleep.

Note: Your Dentist may also recommend crowns, or “caps,” on your natural teeth to improve the way a removable partial denture fits your mouth.

Implants are an alternative to dentures and bridges. Implants are titanium rods/ screws (in layman terms), which are surgically placed into the jawbone and act as anchors for fastening dentures or crowns onto.

Crowns and bridges are very common Dental restorations because of their utility. Each restoration can be used to solve several problems, such as:

• Cracked, damaged or broken teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Discoloured teeth, and
• Missing teeth.

Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials, such as:

• Porcelain, or
• Porcelain bonded to metal.

My Gentle Dentist will help you decide which crown material would be best suited for you by showing you a picture breakdown of the types of crowns. New materials are continually being introduced with the development of technology. Modern day crowns and bridges wholly made from tooth-coloured material are increasingly popular due to greater awareness and their lifelike aesthetics. Advances in Dental technology have made these prosthetic teeth appear so realistic that it is practically impossible to tell them apart from natural teeth.

Our Dentist at My Gentle Dentist Arana hills will discuss which material of crown would be best for you.

Before either a crown or a bridge can be made, the tooth (or teeth) must be reduced in size so that the crown or bridge will fit over it properly. After reducing the tooth/teeth, your Dentist will take an intra-oral scan using state-of-the art TRIOS3 scanner to provide an exact mold for the crown or bridge. If porcelain is to be used, your Dentist will determine the correct shade for the crown or bridge to match the colour of your existing teeth. These scans are emailed to a specialist Dental lab which then makes your crown or bridge, in the material your Dentist specifies. A temporary crown or bridge will be put in place to cover the prepared tooth while the permanent crown or bridge is being made. When the permanent crown or bridge is ready, the temporary crown or bridge is removed, and the new crown or bridge is cemented over your prepared tooth or teeth.

The exact lifespan of any restoration will depend on how well you take care of it. You should continue to brush and floss daily, and check in with My Gentle Dentist twice a year. With proper maintenance, your crown or bridge can last for many-many years.

Crowns can range from $1,200 – $2,400 per tooth. For bridges, it depends on the number of teeth involved, but you can estimate about the same price as crowns per tooth on the bridge. Dental crowns can be seen as expensive because of the technology needed to produce a cap to repair your tooth. Every tooth is as unique as you, and Dentists must use their expertise and modern technology to match the new crown to the shape of your existing teeth and their colour.

Note: Cost will also depend on the material used.

Clean your teeth twice a day and floss at least once every day – simple!

One restoration is not necessarily better than another.

For more information about dental crowns or bridges or to discuss which restoration option is best for you, contact us now!

Crowns and bridgework require the same diligent care as your natural teeth. Always brush and floss between all of your teeth (restored and natural) every day to reduce the build-up of dental plaque. Avoid sticky foods such as toffee and lollies, and do not use your teeth inappropriately – chewing pens, crunching ice, gnawing fingernails, etc. If you have a grinding habit, wearing a nightguard would be a good idea to protect your teeth and your investment. A Dental superfloss, which looks like a small bendy bottle brush, can be used to clean under your bridge. There are also water jets on the market that will help keep your bridge clean. Whether you have a crown or a bridge, the most important thing is to regularly visit your dentist for a checkup and clean. This way problems can be detected early, allowing them to be corrected before they become painful and expensive.