A crown is a cap that is placed over a damaged tooth and held in place by dental glue or cement. Crowns are made of materials that keep their colour and texture for a long time, but the tooth underneath still needs to be checked on a regular basis to see if there is any decay or gum disease. Crowns are used for several reasons:
As a protective cover for badly decayed or broken teeth.
As a permanent restoration for teeth with large fillings.
To correct minor problems in natural teeth, such as gaps, irregular shape or severe discolouration.
BRIDGES
A bridge is something your dentist does to restore a missing tooth. The teeth on either side of the gap are used to hold the replacement tooth – the bridge – firmly in place. There are different ways of making a bridge depending on your individual needs. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best method and talk you through the process in more detail.
DENTURES
Modern dentures are much more elegant than old-fashioned “false teeth”; with proper colour-matching techniques and better fitting, people will have difficulty realising that you have dentures at all. The cost does vary according to the material used and your dentist will talk you through all the options available to you. Aftercare is equally important to us as it is to the health of your mouth, so you will still need regular check-ups.
INLAYS AND ONLAYS
These are an alternative to standard fillings and can be made of porcelain or gold. Your dentist will explain exactly what is involved if he or she thinks these would be suitable for you.
