In what cases is it advisable to get a crown?
Dental crowns are advisable in many types of situations: broken or fractured teeth, cracked teeth, teeth having undergone a root canal treatment, teeth requiring extreme or extensive restorative work and so on. A dental crown may also be a cosmetic treatment option.
What material is used to make dental crowns?
Although many types of dental crowns exist, porcelain and zircon ones are most popular, due to their resemblance to natural teeth. They are very visually attractive, durable and resistant.
What is the procedure involved?
In conventional dentistry:
It takes at least two dentist’s appointments to obtain a dental crown. During a patient’s first visit, the tooth in question is trimmed back in order to remove any decay and to correct any defective restoration work or possible cracks. This is done under local anesthesia. The colour of the crown is chosen according to the shade of adjacent teeth.
The dentist then takes a digital or standard imprint and sends it to the laboratory where the porcelain crown will be produced.
The patient is sent home with a temporary crown to be worn for approximately two weeks.
A second appointment is scheduled for the final crown to be fitted. During this visit, the temporary crown is removed and replaced with its permanent counterpart, fastened using very resistant dental cement.
Single-appointment crown using E4D technology:
E4D technology is a computer-assisted porcelain restoration technique. It allows us to produce porcelain crowns within a single dentist’s visit, from their planning stage all the way to having them fitted. Production is similar to that of crowns made in a laboratory, but the tooth is produced on-site using high-technology equipment. Ask your dentist whether or not you are eligible for E4D technology if you wish to get a dental crown within a single visit.
What is the fitting procedure for a bridge?
To build a sturdy bridge, strong pillars are crucial. In the dental field, pillars are the abutment teeth located on both sides of the gap that needs to be filled. Indeed, one abutment is needed on each side of the space to be restored. The suspended part of a bridge, called a pontic, represents the teeth that are missing following the extraction or one or several teeth. The dental bridge will be firmly bound together with these abutments, and false teeth will replace missing ones.
A fixed bridge has many advantages:
- It is fitted within a short time frame, approximately two weeks.
- It prevents adjacent teeth from moving.
- It bridges gaps that tend to be visually displeasing.
- It allows patients to recover their masticatory function and a more attractive smile.
Although a dental bridge often constitutes an excellent solution, it does suffer a great disadvantage, as it continuously causes loss of bone mass on either side of abutment teeth. This mainly occurs in the trouble spots where false teeth are located. The only way to prevent bone loss is to replace missing teeth with implants.
If you are thinking of replacing any teeth you may be missing, feel free to ask us questions. Several solutions are available – together we will find the one that will suit you best!