Crowns, Veneers and Bridges
Crowns are recommended when too much of a tooth is lost due to decay or fracture and a filling is not considered strong enough. A crown is a casing designed to restore a damaged tooth to its natural look and strength, which completely covers the tooth above the gum line. Each crown is handcrafted by a skilled dental technician to match the specific shape and colour of your natural teeth. The type of crown that is fitted is chosen by you, so you have full control over the exact appearance of your teeth.
Your dentist will start the treatment by numbing your tooth, which will be shaped and if necessary old fillings will be replaced or a core will be built up. An impression is then taken using a rubber-like material, which is sent to a laboratory for the crown to be made, and in the meantime a temporary crown is placed over your tooth. You will then return one or two weeks later for the new crown to be fitted.
Veneers are ideal for covering discoloured or unsightly teeth, or closing gaps between your front teeth. They can also be used to repair chips and cracks. A veneer is a thin slice of porcelain that is made to precisely fit over your tooth, much like a false fingernail fits over a nail. Each veneer is handcrafted by a skilled dental technician to match the ideal shape and colour of your natural teeth.
Treatment involves the numbing of your tooth before a small amount of enamel is removed – usually the same thickness as the new veneer. An impression is then taken using a rubber-like material and a temporary veneer will be fitted while you’re waiting the one to two weeks for your new veneer to be made and fitted.
Bridges are used to replace missing teeth. Although appearance is usually one consideration, missing teeth can cause health issues, such as difficulty eating, food getting stuck in the gaps, which can lead to decay and gum disease, and jaw problems from the change in how your teeth bite together.
A bridge fixes a replacement tooth to natural teeth on either side of a gap. Some bridges have crowns at either end, while others are fixed to the surface of the teeth next to the gap. Bridges can be made from a variety of different materials, including ceramic bridges, which are individually handcrafted to match your natural teeth as closely as possible.
Alternatives to bridges include partial dentures that have clasps that can sometimes show when your smile or open your mouth or dental implants, which although are a more costly option, form a stable and long lasting solution.
Prices start from £450 for crowns, £550 for veneers and £525 per unit for bridges.
