Crowns, Veneers & Bridges FAQ
Whats the difference between different types of crowns like Procera, empress, Zirconia?
Crowns, veneers and bridges can be made of various metals, high strength ceramics or a combination of both. Different types are suitable for different people and in different areas of the mouth, and different aesthetic demands. Dr. Fitzgerald can advise what would be the best solutions for your needs. The quality and appearance of your crown is not dependent on what its made of, its dependent of the skill and artistry of how its made.
How long do crowns, veneers or bridges last?
On average fixed restorations lasts 7-15 years. This time can be reduced if you do not clean the teeth properly and allow gum disease or dental decay to affect the teeth. Also trauma can damage restorations in the same way it damages natural teeth.
Do I always need a root canal to have a crown?
No, teeth often receive crowns without a root canal.
Are implants better than bridges?
Not necessarily. If the teeth either side of a gap require crowns is may be more sensible and economical to have a bridge.
I dont want really white false looking teeth, do crowns look false?
No, good crowns look highly realistic and can match to you existing teeth very well. If however you want a Hollywood smile you can have that also.
What is involved in having a crown, bridge or Veneer? First the area is numbed with local anesthetic. The teeth are prepared so a restoration can fit over them. This preparation is important and detailed work, and takes time. After this an impression is made of the prepared teeth and the teeth in the opposite jaw in order to get the correct bite. These impressions are send to one of our high quality dental laboratories to have the restorations manufactured. During this phase you wear a plastic temporary crown, bridge or veneer that looks like teeth. When they are returned to us, we try them in and check they fit properly, bite properly and look good to you and us. If everything is good, the restoration is cemented permanently onto your teeth.
How Long does treatment take?
This will depend on your situation and clinical needs. A good quality restoration will take several weeks to be manufactured meaning that you will need at least two appointments several weeks apart. You have a temporary crown or bridge in the mean time. Quality work cannot be done in short spaces of time.
Do you offer different standards of crowns?
No, only the best quality crowns, bridges and veneers are used for all patients. We use different labs for different cases because some labs can recreated teeth for younger people, older people, or bleached teeth better than others. Under no circumstance do we use inferior medical devices even if they are cheaper.
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