Your Information Guide to Dental Crown and Bridge
Degrading teeth isn’t something that’s uncommon and the difficulty is to stay away from your favourite food and drink whilst maintaining the balance to keep your oral health as much as possible.
When teeth degrade, they’ll eventually fall out and it is never easy to showcase a smile when a tooth or multiple teeth are missing. It promotes low self-esteem, unattractiveness to your smile and low confidence.
Degrading teeth can stem from a number of factors. Your teeth could be chipped, cracked, decayed or even broken. You’re also in danger of catching an infection.
Lucky, there are restoration procedures available to restore your missing teeth and ensure they’re functioning properly again. Crowns and Bridges are effective restorative solutions which can be used for a number of situations.
There is a lot to depict with crowns and bridges so you understand when you can choose them as an appropriate treatment for your oral health.
Well we have you covered! This guide will detail everything you need to know about crowns and bridges to help you make an informed choice for your oral health needs.
To say goodbye to drifting or worn down teeth further down the line, let’s get right into how crowns and bridges will work for you.
What Is A Dental Crown?
Dental crown is very beneficial to protect any degrading oral health issues. The keyword here is to protect. Crowns do not necessarily resolve any problems with your teeth, but act as a shield, or a cap that encircles your tooth or prosthetic implant.
The restoration crown is fitted on top of the damaged tooth. When placed, it helps the tooth look complete to restore your natural smile and prevent any further damage.
A crown also helps to maintain the strength and improve the appearance of your teeth.
If you suffer from the following niggling dental issues, a crown would be beneficial.
When Do You Need A Dental Crown?
- Cracked Or Brittle Tooth – When a tooth is weak, it is more likely to suffer from tooth decay. A dental crown will protect the tooth from breaking and hold parts of a cracked tooth together.
- Large Filling – When cavity forms in a tooth, the structure needs removing for it to be filled. Therefore, if you have a tooth filling or have had fillings multiple times, there is little room for the tooth to be resolved. A crown would apply protection around the filling particularly for large fillings as there is more chance of the tooth breaking.
- Cover A Dental Implant – Crowns can protect natural teeth as well as prosthetic teeth, known as an implant. The implant is infused to the jawbone to keep it strong. An abutment attachment can be applied to attach a crown on top of the implant. This will blend with your natural teeth to keep your smile aesthetically attractive.
- Root Canal – When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected, commonly in the centre of the tooth, a root canal would be administered. A crown can encircle the root canal to limit any further damage.
What are the different materials used to make crowns?
At your appointment, the dentist will determine the best material appropriate for your tooth to maximize the chances of a dazzling smile.
In general, there are four types of dental crowns.
- Ceramic Dental Crowns – Dental crowns made out of ceramic are the most popular to restore front teeth. Its natural colour and texture ensure your crown blends effortlessly to the rest of your teeth. However, ceramic is a brittle material and is suitable for the protection of front teeth and molars located at the back of the jaw.
- Porcelain-Fused Crowns – Porcelain-fused crowns provide a stronger bonding than regular porcelain because of its extreme durability. The porcelain crown is more natural-looking as well. The dentist will require a shave of tooth structure to be removed to apply the metal restoration.
- Gold Alloys – Dental crowns made out of gold alloys are built with gold, copper and other metal materials that delivers a strong bond to the tooth. It doesn’t fracture and neither does the tooth become weaker.
- Base Metal Alloys – This crown is again made out of metal materials and is one of the stronger crown materials. It requires a shave of tooth structure to apply this crown.
What Special Care Does A Dental Crown Need?
A dental crown requires the same amount of care as your natural teeth. Just because teeth are crowned does not mean that the tooth is protected from decayed or gum disease, neither does it mean the tooth shouldn’t be looked after.
Therefore, follow these tips to look after your crown as well as the protected tooth.
- Continue to brush and floss your teeth twice a day, especially when a crown is placed to ensure the weak tooth is kept away from debris and plaque.
- Consider using antibacterial mouthwash to keep the affected tooth and crown away from bacteria.
- Stay aware of what you are eating. Incorporate softer calcium-rich foods to keep the tooth as strong as possible.
- Reduce sugar treats such as candy to reduce decay forming in and around the crown.
Foods To Avoid And Foods To Eat With Dental Crowns
The foods you eat will determine exactly how long your dental crowns will last. Food can do more damage to your crown and subsequently, weaken tooth that can die instantly.
The below breakdown will give you an idea on the foods you should avoid and the foods you should eat as part of your daily diet.
| FOODS TO AVOID | FOODS TO EAT |
| Chewy and sticky foods (Chewing gum, caramel, toffee) | Calcium rich foods (Cheese, almonds, greens) |
| Nuts and raisins | Phosphorous foods (Meat, eggs, fish) |
| Sugary sweets and candy (Candies, chocolates, candied fruits) | Fruits (Apple, pear, bananas) |
| Crunchy fresh vegetables (Sprouts, Cabbages, carrots, celery) | Water |
| Ice cream and cold desserts | Vitamin-rich foods (Peppers, spinach, tomatoes) |
What Is A Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are most beneficial for those that are missing multiple teeth. A bridge is a fixed restoration that fills gaps between one or more missing teeth. They are perfect to fill gaps on either side of the tooth. An artificial tooth is joined to the abutment and anchoring teeth to blend with your natural teeth.
Bridges have been integral in modern dentistry for ages and were the preferred treatment choice for missing teeth until dentistry evolved, and dental implants came into existence. However today, bridges are still a viable form of treatment.
How Is A Bridge Fitted?
Before bridges are applied, like all dentistry treatments, the dentist will perform an initial assessment to determine if dental bridges are the best option. The dentist will perform this with x-rays to the jaw to understand the severity.
Bridges rest on abutment teeth and the appropriate shape for the bridge to be placed is filled. The dentist then seeks for impressions of shaped teeth to construct the bridge. This is to ensure the prosthetic closely matches the shade of natural teeth to ensure it doesn’t affect your smile.
Patients may also be fitted with a temporary bridge whilst the permanent bridge is constructed. When the permanent bridge is ready, it is checked for proper fitting before being cemented in place. The dentist will then adjust it accordingly to ensure it blends to your natural teeth and doesn’t damage your bite.
How Long Can My Fitted Bridge Last?
As long as you adopt good oral hygiene habits and regular dental check-ups, the dental bridge can last over a decade. The average amount of time a bridge can last is between 5 to 7 seven years, but can last longer if looked after.
Foods To Avoid With A Fitted Bridges
Like with any restorative treatment, your oral health needs to stay strong for your crowns and bridges to last for a long time.
| FOODS TO AVOID | FOODS TO EAT |
| Chewy and sticky foods (Chewing gum, caramel, toffee) | Calcium rich foods (Cheese, almonds, greens) |
| Nuts and raisins | Phosphorous foods (Meat, eggs, fish) |
| Sugary sweets and candy (Candies, chocolates, candied fruits) | Fruits (Apple, pear, bananas) |
| Crunchy fresh vegetables (Sprouts, Cabbages, carrots, celery) | Vitamin-rich foods (Peppers, spinach, tomatoes) |
Common Problems With Crown and Bridge
Whilst crowns and bridges are ideal to protect teeth, the truth is that there are going to be common problems between both afterwards. Sometimes, discomfort is natural because the mouth needs to adapt to the restorative placement. Some common problems after a crown and bridge are fitted include:
- The biting surface changes when a crown is placed. Sometimes, when biting and chewing, you will need to be cautious as crowns and bridges can become loose in time. Contact the dentist as soon as this happens.
- Sensitivity in the gums is expected and is natural after a crown or bridge placement. This is because your mouth is adjusting to the crown or bridge placement.
- Discomfort and pain may also stem from Bruxism, known as teeth grinding. Teeth grinding occurs during sleep and is difficult to identify. Therefore, this does present some danger to your crown and bridge. If this happens, the dentist will recommend wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth during sleep.
Cost of Crown and Bridge in Australia
One of the relatable factors for both crowns and bridges is the location of the practice. Metropolitan areas such as inner Sydney can cost considerably higher compared to outer areas.
In Australia, the price range for a single crown range from $1100-$2000.
For dental bridges, there are a number of other factors, not just the location, that determines the average cost.
- The fitting position of the bridge
- The number of teeth the bridge needs to cover
- The type of material used
The cost of a bridge in Australia can be up to $1200 per tooth. For a double cantilever bridge with a crown, this can cost up to $4500.
For more information on crowns and bridges and helpful tips, visit our blog page.