Crowns and Bridges

crowns bridges dentistry dentist Brentwood Essex dentist

Whatever the reasons, broken, damaged or missing teeth not only can cause extreme discomfort and reduce your confidence, they can also reduce your ability to speak clearly and even enjoy a meal fully. In many cases, dental crowns and bridges can be the ideal long- term solution for replacing damaged or missing teeth.

What is a Dental Crown?

Dental crown is a restoration that protect damaged, cracked or broken down teeth. A crown strengthens your existing, damaged tooth and preserves its functionality. Dental crowns are also commonly known as caps because a crown sits over your existing tooth, covering the entire outer surface. The tooth is prepared for a crown, impressions are then taken and a crown is made and cemented to the tooth. The crown will protect the tooth and reduce the risk of the tooth breaking down or being lost. For cosmetic reasons, to improve the aesthetics of your smile, you may opt for all porcelain cosmetic crowns.

  • If your tooth has undergone significant decay and there is not enough tooth structure remaining to support a filling or an inlay and maintain functionality.
  • If a large portion of your tooth has fractured and it cannot be built up using traditional composite bonding techniques.
  • If you have a large cavity and opt for the additional protection, a crown offers to your tooth over a large composite filling or an inlay.

Crowns should not be the first choice just to improve the aesthetics of your teeth, because a dentist needs to grind a significant portion of the original tooth away. Less invasive alternatives include veneers or dental bonding. Crowns are required when the strength of the tooth supporting the restoration is compromised, since veneers and dental bonding restorations are only as strong as the supporting tooth.

In modern-day dentistry there is a wide variety of dental materials to choose from. Some crowns are made from full gold, whereas others are made from an alloy of metals fused to a porcelain outer shell. After time, crowns that are made from a combination of metal fused to porcelain can begin to show dark gum lines that are not aesthetically attractive. At Devonshire House Dental Practice we only use all-porcelain or ceramic crowns that are the best choice for a natural cosmetic look.

Once you have had a consultation with our dentist and discussed all the treatment options and you are happy to proceed, he will prepare the tooth for crowning. He will clean the tooth, remove any decay and reshape it using a burr (a special dental drill for shaping teeth) under local anaesthesia. The shape of the prepared tooth is usually tapered to allow the crown sit comfortably over the top of it. Once the tooth is prepared, an impression (mould) of your teeth will be taken using the CEREC camera and the restoration will be prepared and fitted shortly afterwards on the same visit.

This will depend largely on how well you look after your teeth. Dental crowns require the same level of care and attention as your natural teeth. Provided you have a good oral hygiene program, attend regular check-ups at your dentist, don’t grind your teeth and don’t do things like open beer bottles with your teeth!, a high-quality dental crown can last 10-15 years.

Dental bridge is a set of artificial teeth that can be used to bridge the gap between one or more missing teeth. They are anchored with two crowns to neighbouring teeth. Before recommending a dental bridge, our dentist first carefully assesses whether a patient’s adjacent teeth are compatible with its placement. Dental bridges can be manufactured from a range of materials such as dental porcelain, gold, metal alloys, composite resin or a combination of these materials.

  • They look just like one’s natural teeth.
  • They are long lasting, with a general life span of 10 to 15 years.
  • They improve speech problems associated with missing teeth.
  • They enable a person to chew food without any bother.
  • They enhance the appearance of one’s smile.

The Devonshire House Dental Practice has been established for over 15 years and we are proud to use state-of-the-art techniques and services at our newly renovated modern surgery conveniently located on the Brentwood High Street. Our dentist is highly experienced in placing dental crowns and bridges. We understand that every individual’s needs are different, and therefore, if you are suffering from damaged, broken or missing teeth, then we strongly advise that you talk with our experienced dentist to learn more about how dental crowns, bridges or other forms of tooth restorations can benefit you the most.

Crowns and Bridges
Cerec Crown using the latest Cerec CAD/CAM technology Primescan- Primemill and Speed Fire£750
Post/Core£180
Cerec Inlays/ Onlays£750
E-Max/ Zirconia all ceramic Crowns£750
Bridges per unit£800

If you are interested in dental crowns & bridges or any of the other treatments that we offer, please call our Dental Practice on 01277 217 727 or email us at info@brentwoodsmiles.co.uk