Dental Crowns and Bridges
Pathway Dental are experienced in creating dental crowns and bridges and have multiple options available to meet your individual needs.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used to restore teeth that have been:
- worn down to a point.
- broken and require restoration.
- filled using a large filling and have little left of the original tooth to cover and protect the root canal.
- replaced with a dental bridge that needs to be held in place.
A dental crown can also be used to perfect the appearance of a discoloured or misshapen tooth or when a dental implant needs covering or modification for cosmetic purposes.
Crowns are not just for adults. Baby teeth can suffer from the same problems as adult teeth and require a crown to protect them too.
Different Types of Dental Crowns
Crowns can be made from many materials. Pathway Dental offer the following choices:
- stainless steel
- porcelain that has been fused to metal
- ceramic
- porcelain
Temporary crowns are made of stainless steel or acrylic.
A dental crown procedure usually requires a couple of appointments, starting with inspecting the problem tooth and creating an individualised treatment plan. An x-ray will be taken to check the extent of the damage. If necessary a numbing paste will be applied, so there is no discomfort while the x-ray is taken.
The tooth will then be filed down to ensure that there is plenty of room for the crown to be added, without it looking odd next to your other teeth. The next step is to make an impression using putty, which will then be used to make your personalised crown. When finished it will match the colour and shade of your existing teeth. A temporary crown will be put in place to protect the cavity until your permanent crown is ready. On your next appointment, the new crown will be fitted and cemented into place.
Call now for an appointment to discuss your individualised treatment plan for missing teeth and partial restorations on 03 366 8866 or request an appointment online—it is the first step to a brighter and healthier smile!
Dental Bridges
If you are missing a tooth, Pathway Dental can help solve your problem with a dental bridge.
A dental bridge can also help if you are missing several teeth. Missing teeth not only alter your bite and make it harder to eat, they can also change the way you speak and the shape of your face.
Dental bridges are false teeth that are made from a durable material such as alloy, porcelain and gold, or a mixture of all three. They are held in place by two crowns, which act as an anchor to ensure that they don’t move, and help them to look like natural teeth.
Our dentists at Pathway Dental can provide you with a more detailed explanation of different treatment options, including images and 3D models. Call now for an appointment to discuss your individualised treatment plan for missing teeth and partial restorations.
Different Types Of Dental Bridges
The three types of bridges are:
- traditional “fixed” bridges
- resin-bonded/Maryland-bonded bridges
- cantilever bridges.
The traditional fixed bridge is the most commonly used and is a permanent solution. It cannot be easily removed.
Resin-bonded or Maryland-bonded bridges are better suited to replacing front teeth if the neighbouring teeth do not have any fillings or damage. The replacement teeth are made from plastic and put in place using a bond that is hidden from view.
The Cantilever type of dental bridges are used to replace bottom teeth that are susceptible to high levels of stress i.e. molars. They are also used where only one ‘decent’ tooth is available for the bridge to bond to, or if everything will be bonded on one side of the mouth.
With appropriate care and good oral hygiene, dental bridges can last for several years.
How is a dental bridge inserted?
We'll start with an appointment to prepare your existing teeth and cover them with temporary crowns. Impressions of your teeth will also be taken so the bridge can be made.
Your next appointment will permanently place bridge.
What is an Inlay/Onlay indirect restoration?
Where part of the tooth is missing, the repair is called an indirect restoration and there are two types of indirect restoration – an inlay or an onlay. The difference between the two is that an onlay covers the top of the tooth (a partial crown) and an inlay fills in the area between the cusps (sides) of a tooth (a full crown).
To schedule an appointment, simply call our clinic on 03 366 8866 or book online.