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Providing dental care in London for over 60 years
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Dental Crowns & Bridges in London
If you have a weak tooth or are missing one or more teeth, you may need a crown or bridge to repair or replace it.
A crown sits over a weak or broken tooth and serves to return the tooth to its former strength and natural shape.
If you are missing one or more teeth, a bridge can be fitted to stop the surrounding teeth from moving out of place, which will be anchored by one or more crowns – filling the gap and restoring appearance and function.
‘Dental caps’ are often spoken about in the media, which is the more commonly used term amongst the general public. However, the official term is a crown or a bridge, so you will be unlikely to see any dentist refer to them as dental caps!
Dental Crowns for Front Teeth
When we make crowns for your front teeth, generally speaking, their appearance is the most important factor. One of the concerns with dental crowns for front teeth is finding a material that is strong and resilient enough to last in the oral environment with the constant impact and use of your teeth.
The main aesthetic issue is the transmission and reflection of light through the dental crown. If we do not use a material that exhibits the same transmission and reflection of light as natural tooth enamel does, then the crown will look different to the surrounding natural teeth.
In years gone by, gold alloys were used for dental crowns. The existing tooth was reduced down to a stump, a gold alloy thimble was made over the top, then highly aesthetic dental ceramic was applied to make the dental crown look like a natural tooth. This technique is still used extensively today, often with excellent results.
However, with this type of porcelain fused to metal crown, light cannot pass through the metal, so it is reflected back. This has the tendency of making the crown look brighter. It certainly is possible to make this type of dental crown look fantastic, but a highly skilled dental technician is always required to work closely with the dentist to ensure the end result is perfect.
In more recent years, metal-free crowns have become more popular, especially with the development of materials like zirconia, which are used extensively in general surgery for hip replacements. Zirconia crowns can often be more expensive to manufacture than porcelain fused to metal crowns, and some research shows that they may not be quite as resilient.
Overall, metal-free crowns are far better to use for front teeth due to their natural light-reflecting and transmitting properties, which make them more similar to natural teeth.
The Longevity of Dental Crowns
As dental crowns have been in common use since the 1960s, they have undergone a considerable amount of research, testing, and trialling – and have proved themselves over and over to be an excellent choice to restore a broken down tooth or support a bridge for a missing tooth.
Throughout decades of development and new dental technologies, older types of dental crowns often came with the following concerns:
- Aesthetics (the way they look).
- Functionality (the way they work with your surrounding teeth and jaw).
- Longevity (the length of time they last)
However, as modern dental crowns have been refined with looks and durability as top priorities, it’s easy to notice and correct any aesthetic or functional problems at the initial fitting stage.
So, when you go to the dentist and have a crown fitted, you must make sure it feels comfortable and blends in with your surrounding teeth, restoring a natural appearance and looking great.
Once the dental crown is fitted, it is difficult to remove it again, so it’s essential that you take the opportunity to tell the dentist your honest opinion before proceeding with the treatment.
When it comes to the longevity of dental crowns, how many years they last and maintain their appearance depends on the precision of their original manufacture and your ability to look after your teeth.
You must continue to brush your teeth twice a day and floss between them, taking special care to ensure that the margin between the tooth and crown is clean.
Even the most expertly applied and well-kept dental crowns will deteriorate over time, but if you notice any problems with your crown or bridge, you can visit a dentist to have it replaced.
Here at The Dental Centre, we can provide both new crowns and replacement crowns for older dental work as needed – which both UCL students and UCL faculty can benefit from thanks to our long-term affiliation.
Grey Lines on Dental Crowns, Why Does This Happen?
The secret to hiding a grey line is to either have a metal-free crown or for the dentist to be especially careful about how they prepare the tooth ready to accept the dental crown, ensuring that any metal is not showing through the porcelain.
Many people say they do not want a dental crown due to the grey line that is often noticeable at the gumline. This grey line can be caused by the following:
- Underlying metal showing through (if it is a porcelain fused to metal crown)
- A shadow from the dental crown cast over the gum area
Even if the dentist designs the crown with any metal hidden underneath the gum, as we get older, our gums can resorb and pull away from the teeth – meaning that over time, any metal edge may become more visible.
We suggest you discuss this with your dentist prior to having your dental crown manufactured.
The Procedure for Dental Crowns
The procedure for making and fitting a dental crown would normally be as follows:
- An initial diagnosis is made that you need to have a broken down tooth restored.
- The remaining tooth structure will be reduced to a stump, known as a ‘preparation’. An impression will then be taken of this prepared tooth and sent to the dental laboratory.
- The new dental crown is manufactured in the lab then fitted at your dental clinic approximately 2 weeks later.
Each of these steps requires a separate appointment and so the whole process can take four or five weeks from start to finish.
Of course, each dental practice and dentist in London will have a slightly different procedure for their dental crowns, however they will all have at least the minimum steps laid out above.
To start the process, you must first book an appointment so our dentist can examine your damaged tooth or teeth.
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Dental Crowns and Bridges London FAQs
When well looked after, a dental bridge can last several years. Typically, our patients benefit from up to 15 years or more with their new dental bridge, and there are things you can do to ensure you get the best out of yours by:
- Maintaining good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing regularly
- Keeping up with regular check-ups with your dentist
- Modifying your diet, to limit or avoid starchy, sugary foods and drink
Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best ways to maintain your new dental bridge, but if you have any concerns, our team will be more than happy to help.
Although having a dental bridge fitted is invasive, it shouldn’t be painful. Before we start the procedure, we will ensure the area is completely numbed, so the only discomfort you should feel will be the numbing injection. This will ensure you’re comfortable and pain-free for the duration of your treatment.
You may experience some discomfort after the procedure, which is completely normal. However, if you find that the pain is very severe or lasts for a week or more, you should seek advice from your dentist.
Although it’s completely normal to experience some discomfort at first as the area heals, your dental bridge should eventually feel just the same as your natural teeth did. In some cases, were previously a patient has had fillings in their teeth, a dental bridge has felt even better and offered a feeling of restoration.
If your new dental bridge has been in place for several weeks but doesn’t feel quite right, it may be best to contact your dentist who can check the area to ensure everything is as it should be.
Because of the nature of a dental bridge, it is possible for food to become lodged beneath it. This is quite normal, but it’s important to maintain strong oral hygiene and to keep up with dental appointments so that your dentist can make sure no food is stuck beneath your bridge.
Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing and using mouthwash can all help to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
