Your Guide to Crowns, Veneers and Bridges.

We packed everything you need to know about Crowns, Veneers and Bridges into this handy guide. Whether you’re not sure which treatment could be for you or you’ve already scheduled an appointment and just want to know what to expect, this is for you.

Porcelain Crowns

A porcelain crown is used to completely cover a weakened, damaged or cracked tooth above the gum line and protect it. Coloured and shaped to match your own teeth, crowns can look and feel almost exactly like a natural tooth.

Soft, moldable material is used to make a precise “impression” of the tooth to be crowned and nearby teeth. A dental technician uses the impression to make the crown the exact height needed. A temporary crown made of plastic or metal is put over the tooth until the crown is made. When the porcelain crown is fitted, small adjustments are made to ensure you retain your natural bite.

Depending on the strength of the tooth underneath, with good dental hygiene a crown can last for many years

Porcelain Veneers

Dental veneers are thin shells that are custom crafted and bonded to the surface of the teeth. Although they can be fabricated from different materials, most often porcelain is used because of its durability and realistic appearance.

Veneers require minimal tooth preparation, relative to other cosmetic dental procedures, veneers can achieve outstanding improvements in colour, alignment, size discrepancies, and general appearance.

You will see the difference veneers and cosmetic dentistry can make in a smile in our gallery below.

Some of Our Frequently Asked Questions Around Veneers

• How Long Does the Crown/Veneer Process Take?

  There are two stages, each stage lasting two hours with a three week period in between.

  On the first visit the teeth are prepared and an impression taken, temporary crowns/veneers are fitted. At the second stage appointment, the temporary crowns/veneers are removed and permanent ones are fitted.

• What Are the Advantages of Veneers?

  Veneers make teeth look natural and healthy, and because they are very thin and are held in place by a special strong bond (rather like super-glue) very little preparation of the tooth is needed.

• What About Alternatives?

  A natural-coloured filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth. This is excellent where the tooth supports the filling, but may not work so well for broken tooth corners. There will always be a join between the tooth and the filling material.

  Crowns are used for teeth that need to be strengthened – either because they have broken, have been weakened by a very large filling, or have had root canal treatment.

• How Long Will a Veneer Last?

  Veneers should last for many years, but they can chip or break, just as your own teeth can. Your dentist will tell you how long each individual veneer should last. Small chips can be repaired, or a new veneer fitted if necessary.

• How Are Teeth Prepared for a Veneer?

  Some of the shiny outer enamel surface of the tooth may be removed, to make sure that the veneer can be bonded permanently in place later.

  The amount of enamel removed is tiny and will be the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted, so that the tooth stays the same size.

  A local anaesthetic (injection) may be used to make sure that there is no discomfort, but often this is not necessary.

  Once the tooth has been prepared, the dentist will take an ‘impression’. This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer.

  The colour of the surrounding teeth is matched on a shade guide to make sure that the veneer will look entirely natural.

• How Long Will It Take?

  A veneer takes at least two visits; the first to prepare the tooth and to match the shade, and the second to fit it.

  Before bonding it in place, your dentist will show you the veneer on your tooth to make sure you are happy with it. Bonding a veneer in place is done with a special adhesive, which holds it firmly on the tooth.

• Will I Need a Temporary Veneer Between Visits?

  On the day the teeth are prepared for the veneers we place a temporary veneers on the tooth until the real veneer is ready to be fitted. So your teeth will look like natural teeth during the 3 week wait until its time for the real ones to be placed.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are appliances used to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made out of three pieces that fit into the open space between teeth, “bridging” the gap.

Most bridges are made of a pontic tooth (or false tooth), held together by two crowns (a “cap” that covers the tooth, approximating its normal size and shape). This combination is then attached (cemented) to the abutment teeth (the surrounding teeth on each side of the gap).