Crowns, Bridges & Veneers
Crowns
Dental crowns are typically considered for teeth that have already been weakened considerably by tooth decay, large fillings or root canal treatment. A crown is a porcelain or gold cover that goes over your tooth to rebuild and strengthen a weak or broken tooth. It is also used to improve smile by changing the shape and colour of your existing teeth.
Over the years, our teeth are weakened by decay and the process of filling them. Experience tells us that with time any tooth that is heavily filled is at high risk of breaking. Fillings are not the best solution when the tooth structure is weak. Crowning the tooth will give it the strength that it needs.
Putting a dental crown on a tooth requires 2 separate appointments. In the first appointment, the dentist will shape and adjust the tooth to allow enough space for a crown. An impression is also taken of the tooth, and then sent to an external dental lab so that the crown can be professionally fabricated. A temporary crown is then placed onto your tooth to protect it. On your second appointment (usually takes place around 2 weeks later), your new crown will be cemented and ready to be used straightaway.
At Focus 32 Dental Hamilton, our focus on restorative dentistry with knowledge and experience in occlusion ensures that the crown is the exact shape and colour required to mimic or improve nature. Having a dental crown fitted can significantly improve the aesthetic appearance of your teeth by covering misshaped or badly discoloured teeth. You will be able to smile with confidence again, knowing that we have taken great care to the selection and quality of the restoration.
Bridge
A bridge is a solution for missing tooth or teeth. It uses crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap and a false tooth in between to cover the gap.
Gap left by missing teeth can cause the teeth on either side to shift, compromising bite. Restoring the gap is a very effective way to improve your appearance and also function of your teeth such as eating and speech.
A bridge can offer several benefits:
- Restore your natural smile
- Improve the function of your teeth i.e. ability to properly speak and chew
- Distribute the forces in your bite properly
- Help to maintain the shape of your face
- Prevent your remaining teeth from shifting
The procedure of a dental bridge is very similar to that of a dental crown. It will take two appointments. In your first visit, the teeth adjacent to the gap are shaped to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Impressions of your teeth are then made and sent to the dental lab for your bridge to be made. We will then make a temporary bridge for you to wear to protect the exposed teeth and gums.
During your second visit, your temporary bridge will be removed and the new permanent one will be checked and adjusted, as necessary, to achieve a proper fit. The bridge is then cemented into place.
Veneers
Veneers can bring back the sparkle in your smile and give you the confidence that you need to smile again! They are thin, hand crafted porcelain shells that are placed over your front teeth to strengthen the teeth and enhance your smile.
Porcelain veneers have the ability to change the shape, colour and alignment of teeth, and are arguably the most aesthetic, strongest, longest lasting and most conservative restoration that we can place on a tooth.
Porcelain veneers require minimal tooth cutting and are therefore more conservative than crowns. With proper care, veneers can often last a long time. At Focus 32 Dental, we take great care not only in ensuring your smile looks good, but also your bite is stable. This is the key factor to make sure that the porcelain veneers placed will last for a long time.
If your teeth are chipped, crooked, oddly shaped or have small gap between them, veneers will be able to resolve such irregularities and strengthen those teeth.
The team at Focus 32 Dental Hamilton has the experience and knowledge to help you enhance your smile and call us now on 0800 32 SMILE or email us at hello@focus32.co.nz.