CROWN & BRIDGE PROCEDURES (Crowns, Bridges, and Post & Cores)


EACH TOOTH AFFECTS OTHER TEETH:


Each tooth, like the member of a family, supports the others and helps them do their job. Your teeth enable you to eat and speak comfortably. When one or more is injured or missing, the health of others may be threatened. It may become hard for you to chew, or the appearance of your smile may change. If you're having problems with one or more of your teeth, your dentist can help you decide if a crown, implant, fixed bridge, or partial denture can help restore your teeth to their normal function.


Not everyone is aware of problems with their teeth. Injured or missing teeth do not always hurt at first. But if they're not restored or replaced quickly, it can progressively lead to bite problems, T.M.J dysfunction, decay on adjacent teeth, and gum disease. There are many reasons for having restorative work, such as:

Endodontically treated teeth (teeth which have previously received a root canal). If a tooth is not restored promptly, with a post & core system, recurrent decay will form and destroy what is left of the tooth. The radiograph to the right illustrates a tooth that was not restored immediately following root canal therapy. This tooth is now a candidate for extraction.

Fractured tooth (a cracked molar can cause pain upon chewing certain foods - caused by "wear & tear" or large unsupported fillings). A fractured front tooth (shown below) can become an esthetic concern.

A missing tooth (can cause the position of other teeth to gradually change. The space left by the missing tooth may cause some teeth to tilt forward and rotate, or opposing teeth to move down). Shifting and drifting teeth could lead to changes in your chewing muscles, bones, and joints, making chewing difficult. Teeth that have moved out of their normal position can tip over and become harder to clean. Missing teeth can diminish the longevity of other teeth.

Advanced caries beyond restoration with conventional fillings (not enough tooth structure to support a filling).

Esthetics (to correct oddly shaped, or discolored teeth).

full reconstructions (correcting bite problems with an esthetic consideration).

Implants (crowns and bridges supported by implants).

Excessively worn teeth, or teeth with large fractured or defective fillings (when a large filling breaks or develops decay underneath, a new restoration should replace it, before further damage results).


To identify the exact cause of your problem or to confirm your Diagnosis, your doctor may perform some diagnostics, including:


X-Rays show views of your teeth and jaws. They help determine the condition of your bones and teeth as they relate to one another.


Diagnostics models are plaster-like casts that replicate The shape of your teeth and gums. It lets your dentist Study the arrangement of your teeth, the details of your bite and how adjunctive orthodontics may enhance the outcome of your treatment. In some cases, it is necessary to design a better Restoration to optimize its function and appearance.


An electronic pulp test consists of a slight electrical impulse that is sent to the tooth to determine if the nerve inside is alive Or dead, and if other dental work is required before restorative work begins.


Many different types of crowns and bridges are available, such as:

full gold (traditional yellow or white gold).

porcelain fused to high noble, semi-precious or non-precious alloy.

all ceramics , composite resin or acrylic (temporary).

porcelain butt joint restorations are available. These types of restorations are esthetically superior because instead of a metal interface they have porcelain margins, which are much harder to visually detect.


The type of restoration a patient needs, depends on:

the occlusion (the bite and how teeth generally come together, and relate to each other).

the location of the tooth on which the restoration will be placed.

esthetic considerations (the patient's smile line and the condition of adjacent teeth).

finance - the choice of materials can be influenced by the patient's budget.


There are other types of restorations available, such as: Cast or Prefabricated post & cores, ceramic veneers, Inlays/onlays - gold, ceramics and composite resins (a type of filling).