Crowns and bridges

At Dental Studio Perfect we restore teeth with crowns and bridges. They can be made of several kinds of material.

Metal-ceramic

Metal-ceramic crowns and bridges have an inner part, the coping, made of a metal alloy (nickel-free, hypoallergenic chrome-cobalt), and an outer part of ceramic. They are strong, look good and last a very long time.

Zirconia-ceramic

These use no metal. The coping is zirconia, cut by a computer-controlled milling machine, which makes it very precise. Layers of ceramic are then built up on it. Zirconia-ceramic is also exceptionally strong and natural-looking, and comes closest to the natural make-up of the hard tissues of the tooth.

All-ceramic crowns

They look very much like natural teeth and are strong. They are made from a single block of lithium disilicate ceramic. Despite their strength, all-ceramic crowns are brittle, so they are recommended for front teeth.

How a tooth is prepared

Preparing a tooth for a crown takes several steps. First the dentist removes a larger amount of the hard tissue of the tooth, usually under anaesthetic so that no pain is felt; if needed, the nerve is removed. While shaping the tooth the dentist forms a ledge on which the edge of the crown will later sit. The aim is for the surface of the crown to continue the surface of the root, so that there are no gaps where microorganisms could get in and cause decay under the crown.

After the final shaping and finishing, an impression is taken and sent to a dental technician. Making the crown takes 5 to 8 days; until then the patient wears temporary crowns. The finished work is fitted in the mouth, and its fit to the tooth and its colour are checked. The last step is cementing it in place.

How long a crown or bridge lasts depends on good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.