CROWN AND BRIDGE WORK

Crown work have certain indications. 

• For cracked or heavily decayed teeth, that is no longer repairable with dental fillings, because of the amount of tooth structure affected.
• After a root canal treatment where there is a lot of tooth structure lost, the tooth is always brittle because it’s ‘dead’ with no blood and nerve supply.
• To restore worn down teeth because of grinding.
• Aesthetically to improve the appearance of discoloured or deformed teeth.

Bridge work is where there is an absent tooth (or teeth), which consists of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) anchored on the neighbouring crowns or implants.
Bridges are an alternative to implants, that is more expensive or removable sectional dentures, which is the cheapest option.

Crowns and bridges are non-removable prosthetics that are cemented or bonded into place, and are custom-made for each patient.

Material used:

• Porcelain and ceramic for a more natural look, especially for the front teeth.
• Porcelain fused to metal usually for the back teeth.
• Metal alloys for the back teeth where vertical space is a problem and also where patients is grinders, which needs a stronger material to withhold the grinding forces.

Procedure for crowns:

1. Most medical insurances need a pre authorization before any work can be done.
2. A dental xray of the teeth needs to be taken and the dentist have to supply a quotation with all the codes so that the patient can send it to the medical aid, and get authorization for the work.
3. The first appointment is usually 60 minutes.
4. Firstly an opposing impression is taken for the technician so that he can bult the crown to be perfect for the occlusion.
5. Another impression is taken to use afterwords to make a temporary crown, if needed.
6. In the meanwhile the dentist will determine the perfect colour to fit in with the adjacent teeth.
7. The natural tooth is reshaped, all the decay is removed and filled up if necessary. When there is a root canal procedure done on the tooth, and there is no crown left, a pin needs to be placed for retention in the root canal.
8. After all the preparation is done by the dentist, a final impression is taken to sent to the laboratory, where a dental technician will make the crown.
9. The dentist will use the impression which is taken before preparation, to make a temporary crown to fit over the crown preparation, it will be glued with temporary cement, just for a week, until the next appointment.
10. After 5 days the patient will come back for 30 minutes for the permanent placement of the crown. A xray will be taken to make sure that the crown fits, with no leakage on the edges.

Other options:

Cerec crowns are crowns done in the chair, and cut with a computer milling program, with placement 2 hours later. We don’t do Cerec crowns at Wiggly teeth, because our dentist believe the laboratory placement do have the best results.