As we age, many of us find ourselves with teeth that are no longer structurally sound. Root canals, lost fillings, decay, chipping and cracking of the enamel are all things that can lead to large scale problems in a tooth's surface. When the entire surface of the tooth is a problem, but the root system is intact, a crown might be the ideal solution for you.

A crown is used in both restorative and cosmetic dental procedures. It is normally used to restore teeth that have been damaged, decayed or fractured, along with assisting in bringing back your beautiful smile. A crown can be made from a few different materials, full porcelain/zirconia crown (most aesthetic), the bonded porcelain fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown, the most common being porcelain due to its function and ability to act as your natural teeth do. When an individual treatment plan is designed for you and if crowns are part of that, your dentist will decide the best material to be used for your circumstances.

Advantage - Porcelain crowns are considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing, as it is so easily matched in colour to the surrounding teeth.

Disadvantage -The thickness of the porcelain required for pleasing aesthetics also requires that more tooth structure needs to be removed. It is more difficult for us to get an ideal fit where your gum meets the crown. If is does not work for your particular dental health, you may consider veneers as a solution.

You may find that if you are suffering from one of the following conditions, a crown could be a suitable solution for you.

Constructing a crown requires two appointments. During your first visit, the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression or mould is made of the tooth, and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth. At the subsequent visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted and adjusted and cemented into place - simple!

BRIDGES - A dental bridge is a false tooth, which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. Two crowns hold the bridge in place and are bonded onto your natural teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures.

After your mouth has been assessed, the appropriate diagnostic records and models taken, the required structure of the bridge is decided upon. Bridges are not removable and can be made from similar materials to crowns, metal or porcelain, or a combination of both.

Crowns are used along with bridges, replacing the actual teeth while the bridge is acting as the frame to hold them in place.

Bridges offer a functional way to replacing teeth and work hand in hand with crowns to achieve the best possible aesthetically pleasing effect.

Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues and even improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene, but will last as many as ten years or more.

If you have missing teeth and have good oral hygiene practices, you should discuss this procedure with your dentist. If spaces are left unfilled, they may cause the surrounding teeth to drift out of position. Additionally, spaces from missing teeth can cause your other teeth and your gums to become far more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

Advantages and disadvantages of bridges are…

Advantages - Bridges are natural in appearance, and usually require only two visits to your dentist. If you maintain good oral hygiene, your bridge should last as many as ten years or more.

Disadvantages - It is common for your teeth to be mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks after the treatment. The build up of bacteria formed from food acids on your teeth and gums can become infected if proper oral hygiene is not followed.