Crowns and Bridges

What is a crown?

Crowns are used to rebuild teeth which have been broken or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. The crown fits over the remaining part of the tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape and contour of a natural tooth. Crowns are sometimes also known as ‘caps’.

What is a bridge?

A bridge is a fixed method of replacing missing teeth. The false tooth/teeth are like crowns, they are fixed to other crowns which are cemented onto natural existing teeth. A bridge is usually used instead of a denture where there are less missing teeth to replace.

We offer two grades of crowns and bridges:

  • Porcelain fused to metal and Ceramic
  • Ceramic
  • These crowns and bridges are the dentist’s preferred choice; they deliver the ultimate in metal-free aesthetics and strength. The all ceramic completely solid nature of the material used allows your dentist to more reliably colour match the shade.
  • Porcelain-fused-to-metal
  • The traditional option; porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) is a process in which the dental laboratory makes a thin metal mould of your prepared tooth, and then adds porcelain on top to recreate your tooth as a crown. Once the crown is created, your dentist uses cement to secure it in your mouth. Bridges are constructed in a similar way – they are used to replace missing teeth.

This type of crown and bridge has been in use for many years. It is the least costly but does not allow much light transmission, which can make the tooth look solid and unnatural. Not normally recommended as a first choice when implants are involved. Also, gums may recede in time leaving a grey line at the base of the tooth.

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New patients are welcome at Chris Bird Dental Care in Cannock, Staffordshire. Book your appointment today.

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