Crowns &
Bridges.

• A crown protects a weakened tooth from fracture
• Restores a tooth that can no longer hold a filling
• Modern ceramic and zirconia crowns offer exceptional aesthetic restoration
• Crowns offer great long-term value for money

A crown is a custom-made cap that fits over a damaged, weakened, or heavily restored tooth to restore its shape, strength, and appearance. Crowns are commonly recommended after root canal treatment, when a large filling has failed, when a tooth is cracked, or when a tooth is severely worn down. They can be made from ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, or zirconia.

A well-made crown, cared for properly, typically lasts 10 to 20 years, often longer. The lifespan depends on the material chosen, the biting forces placed on it, and your oral hygiene habits. We check the margins and condition of existing crowns at each examination and will advise you if a crown is showing signs of wear or requires replacement.

Getting a crown usually takes two appointments, spaced approximately two weeks apart. At the first appointment, the tooth is prepared, an impression or digital scan is taken, and a temporary crown is fitted. The temporary crown protects the tooth while your permanent crown is made in a dental laboratory. At the second appointment, the finished crown is fitted and adjusted.

Yes – modern ceramic and zirconia crowns are designed to closely match the shape and shade of your surrounding teeth. We take careful note of your tooth colour and the way your teeth fit together to ensure the crown looks as natural as possible. Crowns placed on back teeth are less visible; for front teeth, we pay particular attention to aesthetics.

• A bridge prevents teeth migrating into the space vacated by a missing tooth
• Bridges help resort proper chewing function by replacing missing teeth
• Bridges maintain facial structure and appearance
• They offer a fixed, low maintenance alternative to removable partial dentures

A dental bridge is a fixed restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth. It works by anchoring an artificial tooth (or teeth) to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. These supporting teeth are prepared and crowned, with the false tooth (pontic) suspended between them. Bridges are permanently fixed and feel much like natural teeth.

A bridge relies on the teeth adjacent to the gap for support, which means those teeth must be filed down and crowned. A dental implant is self-supporting – it is placed directly into the jawbone and does not affect neighbouring teeth. Implants also preserve the jawbone, which naturally shrinks after tooth loss. Bridges tend to be faster and less expensive upfront, but implants often offer better long-term outcomes.

A well-maintained bridge typically lasts 10 to 15 years, though many last considerably longer. The lifespan depends on the materials used, the health of the supporting teeth, and how well you clean the bridge. Cleaning underneath the pontic (the false tooth) with floss threaders or interdental brushes is important to prevent decay and gum problems in the supporting teeth.

The preparation of the supporting teeth is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you should not experience pain during the procedure. You may feel some sensitivity afterwards in the prepared teeth. A temporary bridge will be fitted while your permanent bridge is being made, so the teeth are never left exposed.