Crowns and Bridges in Shellharbour – Restore Your Smile Beautifully
Damaged or missing teeth can mark your smile and put a dent in your confidence and, if you just ignore the situation, things are likely to get worse. Fortunately, we can treat both of these dental problems with crowns or bridges in Shellharbour, and get your oral health, confidence and smile back on track.
Let’s take a look at the difference between crowns and bridges.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a cap which covers the visible part of a tooth which sits above the gumline. Our Shellharbour dentists use crowns in a variety of ways, to:
- Restore a tooth that is broken or worn down
- Hold a bridge in place
- Protect and strengthen a tooth following a root canal
- Strengthen a tooth with minimal structure remaining
- Cover a misshapen or discoloured tooth
- Top a dental implant
There are 4 different types of crowns: ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, gold alloys, and base metal alloys. We like to use porcelain crowns because they’re strong and have similar properties to tooth enamel, which gives them a totally natural look.
What is a dental bridge?
Fixed bridges in Shellharbour are one way we can replace missing teeth. A bridge is made by covering the teeth on either side of the space with crowns, and then joining them together with a false tooth or teeth in the middle to cover the gap.
Reasons for getting bridges in Shellharbour
- To close a gap left by a missing tooth or teeth
- To improve bite function and chewing ability
- To prevent existing teeth from drifting into spaces
- To support facial structures in order to retain facial shape
- To provide a fixed option as compared to a removable denture
If there is just one tooth at the end of a gap, then our dentist can discuss other types of bridges in Shellharbour.
How are crowns and bridges made?
Before either a crown or bridge is made, the tooth/teeth will have to be prepared to accommodate the crown or bridge. After preparing the teeth, our dentist will take a digital impression to create an exact model for the dental lab to craft your crown or bridge. If porcelain is being used for crowns and bridges, our Shellharbourdentists will choose a shade closest to your natural teeth. You’ll be fitted with ‘temporaries’ until your custom crowns and bridges have been made. To complete the procedure, your permanent crowns and/or bridges are checked for fit, and permanently cemented in place. As all our crowns and bridges are made Australia, they come with up to 15 years warranty!
If you’re looking to restore your smile, then give Shellharbour Dentists a call on (02) 4216 9911 to schedule a consultation. Our high-quality crowns and bridges are available with a lab guarantee, depending on the materials used, please ask our dentist for more information prior to treatment.