Crowns

When a filling is no longer an option for repairing a decayed or damaged tooth, a crown offers a custom
solution to restore the tooths function.

Crowns are made of either ceramic material, a combination of porcelain and metal or just metal. Discuss
this with your dentist. Crowns can be used to improve the appearance, shape or alignment of your teeth.

Crown work usually requires two dental appointments, one to prepare the tooth/teeth and the follow up
appointment to cement your restoration, which has been custom made in a laboratory.

How it works:

1. After preparation an impression is made of your tooth it will be sent to a laboratory for a
technician to customise the crown and a this time you will be made a temporary covering.

2. When your crown is ready your dentist will cement into place with dental cement produced for
this purpose
3. Your restored tooth will look and function like a real one allowing you to bite, chew and eat normally.

Bridges

Bridges are made to replace missing teeth. They are made from the same materials as crowns and offer a
long term proven replacement option. Bridges are only suitable with healthy teeth adjacent to the gap to
be restored, bridges are similar to an architectural bridge since it ‘bridges’ the gap created by missing
natural teeth.

There are several types of bridges and options needs to be discussed with your dentist
. Custom-made in a dental lab, a bridge hides the gap with a prosthetic tooth or teeth,
secured at each end by a crown.

Usually two visits are required one to prepare the teeth and the second to cement the bridge
How it works;

1. After preparation of the teeth a dental impression is taken and sent to our laboratory for a
technician to customise your bridge and you will be made a temporary covering.

2. When your bridge is ready your dentist will cement into place with dental cement produced for
this purpose.
3. After restoration your new teeth will function like real ones allowing you to bite, chew and eat
normally

Veneers

Veneers are a good treatment option to consider because they look like natural teeth and do not
require a major procedure. Veneers can be made from porcelain or a thin plastic resin, they can be
used to mask internal stains, close small gaps or correct poorly formed or mildly mal-positioned teeth.
How it works;

1. A veneer is a very thin tooth coloured piece of porcelain [like a false finger nail, but more
durable] it is bonded on top of your own tooth.

2. After discussion of suitability with your dentist and based on your needs, the shape and
size can be discussed. Your teeth could possibly be made longer, depending on your bite, and
teeth could be closer together.

3. You can have one veneer made or a whole set, known as a smile makeover.