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Crowns, Bridges, and Veneers

 

Crowns

A crown is a fixed, permanent restoration that can strengthen or repair a tooth that is heavily filled or broken. Crowns can be referred to as “caps” or “shells”.

There are several different crowns available:

  • Metal alloy crown - available on the NHS for molar teeth

  • Metal-ceramic crown

    • Available on the NHS for front teeth and premolars only.

    • Available privately for molar teeth.

  • Fully ceramic crown - only available privately on all teeth.

In some cases where the tooth is badly broken down, a post may be required to retain the crown.

 

Procedure:

  1. The tooth is reduced down on all sides

  2. An impression is taken of the preparation and your bite recorded

  3. The colour of porcelain is chosen with you (if choosing a porcelain crown)

  4. A temporary crown is placed over the tooth to protect it

  5. The crown is fitted 2 weeks later after being made in a lab

 

Bridges

A bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth/teeth and uses the tooth/teeth adjacent to the gap to carry a false tooth (known as the pontic).

 

Types of Bridges:

  • Traditional — Crowns are placed on the teeth adjacent to the gap

  • Cantilever — Crown is placed on a single tooth next to the gap

  • Resin-bonded — Metal wings are cemented on the tooth/teeth adjacent to the gap

Bridges require preparation of the teeth too. The traditional and cantilever ones are prepared in a similar way to crowns while the resin-bonded requires less preparation and therefore less invasive.

 

Veneers

A porcelain veneer is a thin layer of ceramic that covers the surface of a tooth similar to a false nail. They can be used to improve the appearance of discoloured, chipped or stained teeth. Veneers do not strengthen or repair teeth like crowns therefore they are normally used for cosmetic reasons on front teeth.