Crowns and bridges

A crown covers and restores a single damaged tooth, and a bridge replaces one or more missing teeth using the teeth on either side of the gap for support. This suits a tooth that has broken, or has too little natural structure left to support a large filling, and a gap left by one or more missing teeth. Dr Annabel Davies provides crowns and bridges at BRS Dental on Strand Street, in Cape Town City Centre.

When you might need one

A crown is generally recommended when a tooth has broken, when a large filling has left too little natural tooth structure to support it, or after root canal treatment, when a tooth can be more brittle. A bridge is an option when one or more teeth are missing and the neighbouring teeth are strong enough to support a replacement, since a gap can otherwise affect chewing and speech, and let the remaining teeth drift out of position over time.

What happens at the appointment

Fitting a crown usually takes two visits. At the first, the tooth is reshaped under local anaesthetic, a mould is taken, and a temporary crown is fitted while the permanent one is custom-made, usually by a dental laboratory. At the second visit, the permanent crown is checked for fit and appearance and cemented into place. A fixed bridge is prepared in a similar way, using the crowns of the teeth on either side of the gap to support an artificial tooth in between, and several appointments are usually needed to fit one well.

How long it takes

Fitting a crown normally takes two appointments, about one to two weeks apart, to allow time for the dental laboratory to make it. A bridge generally involves a similar span of weeks and more than one visit, since it too is custom-made to fit the surrounding teeth.

Aftercare

A temporary crown should be treated gently, avoiding very sticky or hard food on that side of the mouth until the permanent one is fitted. Once a crown or bridge is in place, it is cared for much like a natural tooth, with regular brushing and attention to the gum line around it. A bridge needs extra care to clean underneath the artificial tooth and between it and the neighbouring teeth, and a dentist can advise on the right technique for this. Regular check-ups let the dentist see how a crown or bridge is holding up over time.

Getting in touch

Fees for a crown or bridge are discussed with reception. The panel on this page shows how to get in touch to arrange an examination.