It’s possible that your teeth are so damaged or discolored that this solution is no longer viable. Let’s see what other options we have then!
Alternative:
Crown (a full tooth covering made of metal-ceramic, porcelain, or zirconium)
Crown
A crown is a fixed prosthesis that covers the entire tooth. The simplest way to imagine it is as a protective cap for a severely damaged, broken, or weakened tooth (stump).
The material can be:
- Traditional metal-ceramic
- Gold-ceramic
- Metal-free porcelain
- Zirconium
- Plastic (only as a temporary crown): These temporary solutions are used when making crowns and bridges. The filed-down teeth are sensitive and not aesthetically pleasing. Since the tooth is deprived of its outer enamel layer, it requires protection, as it is essentially a wound surface. They can be made in the clinic, allowing us to immediately replace the original tooth. Alternatively, they can be made by a dental technician, which may be somewhat stronger and more refined, but we have to wait about 1 day for it.
In which cases are fixed dental restorations applicable/recommended?
- Severely damaged teeth that cannot be restored with fillings, inlays, or veneers (for example, due to decay).
- Root-treated teeth (mainly to protect against fractures, as these are weakened, lifeless teeth).
- Broken teeth that require a post and core buildup.
- To correct significant aesthetic issues (such as severely discolored teeth, alignment irregularities, or closing gaps between the upper incisors).
- To anchor and secure bridges or removable prostheses.
- As an implant-supported crown.
- When replacing a crown that was previously placed on the tooth (this is almost certainly necessary if the edge of the old metal-based crown turns gray and the tooth becomes sensitive underneath).
How is a fixed dental restoration made?
- After anesthesia (which is not necessary for root-treated teeth), we shape the tooth by grinding it into a cone-like form.
- We take an impression (which ensures that the crown will fit precisely), record the bite, and select the perfect tooth color.
- We create a temporary plastic crown in the clinic or have one made by a dental technician. (This way, no one will know that you’re in the middle of a "tooth restoration" since, thanks to its good aesthetics, your acquaintances won’t notice any change. On the other hand, it also prevents your teeth from becoming sensitive and being constantly exposed to hot and cold stimuli.)
- The dental technician usually prepares the new prosthesis within 5 working days.
- During our second appointment, we will remove the temporary crown and bond the permanent one. (Of course, this will happen after a try-in, and if you are completely satisfied with the achieved aesthetic result.)
Alternatives:
If the tooth is damaged to such an extent that it cannot be restored with a crown, it needs to be removed. In this case, we can choose from the following options:
- Bridge
- Implant (artificial root)
- Removable prosthesis (in cases of multiple missing teeth)
The treatment includes:
- Specialist examination
- If necessary, CT or panoramic X-ray analysis
- Creating a treatment plan
- Local anesthesia
- The preparation of the tooth/teeth for metal-ceramic crowns
- Sulcus (the area between the tooth and the gum) dilation for impression taking
- Impression taking for the dental laboratory.
- Photodocumentation creation
- Sending the impression and photodocumentation to the dental laboratory
- Creation of a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown by the dental laboratory.
- Trial fitting of a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.
- Permanent bonding of a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.
Bridge
A fixed restoration used for replacing missing tooth/teeth. It is anchored on the teeth bordering the gap, effectively bridging and replacing the missing tooth. A special form of this is the inlay-retained bridge, where the neighboring teeth do not need to be shaved all around, but only prepared for an inlay.
The material of a fixed dental restoration can be:
- Traditional metal-ceramic
- Gold-ceramic
- Zirconium
- Metal-free porcelain (only shorter bridges can be made from it)
In which cases is it applicable/recommended?
To replace missing teeth (this restores the original chewing function, aesthetics, and speech – especially for front teeth).
How is it made?
Since a bridge can be imagined as a combination of multiple crowns, its creation process is the same as that of a crown. However, in this case, at least two teeth need to be filed down. See the process for crowns!
Frequently Asked Questions
