What is a crown, and what is a dental bridge?
A Crown is a cap placed on damaged teeth, either cavity, broken tooth or any other reason.
A crown can be suggested in order to:
- restore a big filling without sufficient tooth support
- save weak teeth from breaking
- serve as a cover for an implant
cover broken, deformed, or coloured teeth
Dental Bridge
When one or more teeth are missing, neighbouring teeth on both sides serve as abutment and this gap is filled with a dental bridge.
When you lose a tooth for any reason, adjacent teeth start moving towards this gap. This may cause gum problems in distressed area, bone loss due to leaning towards this gap, aesthetic issues, and decreased chewing power. If this gap is not restored with an implant or a dental bridge, you may lose adjacent teeth as well.
Crowns and Bridges with Metal Support
Standard metal ‘quotni-co’ or precious metal ‘quotau’ can be used for base structure. Prized for its compatibility with teeth and gums, gold is also used in dentistry. Applications utilizing precious metals will always provide healthier and prettier results.
All-porcelain crown without metal support
These are made of reinforced porcelain. While crown appearance depends on a number of factors, the most important aspect is its reaction to light. Light transmits through natural teeth, which gives them a deeper and more vivid look. All-porcelain crowns have the same property, although lower, making them look much more natural with a deeper and more vivid appearance.
- Reacting to light the same way, all-porcelain crown offers most aesthetic and natural look, unlike the pale and artificial porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. This makes all-porcelain a good choice for front teeth.
- Under certain lighting conditions (disco lights, photoflash, etc.) porcelain-fused-to-metal may appear like a dark void, while all-porcelain transmits all types of light just like natural teeth.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is mechanically glued to teeth. All-porcelain crown, on the other hand, is attached to teeth both mechanically and chemically, making it quite sturdier than porcelain-fused-to-metal.
- All-porcelain crown doesn’t have a metal base, eliminating the risk of a dark coloured line on your gum, ensuring a better look.
- In the case of gum recession, all-porcelain will retain its appearance, but porcelain-fused-to-metal will not look great, especially around the connection point.
- Unlike metal ingredients such as nickel and many others used in the base structure, all-porcelain does not pose any allergic risks.
- All-porcelain crowns can be used on people whose teeth have been filed down before.
Crowns and bridges made with ceramic over a zirconium base are known as CERCON. Offering revolutionary features such as the highest physical value with 900 Mpa resistance, high tissue compatibility, and effective against a
variety of indications, CERCON initiated a new wave in dentistry.
While crown appearance depends on a number of factors, the most important aspect is its reaction to light. Light transmits through natural teeth, which gives them a deeper and more vivid look. All-porcelain crowns have the same property, although lower, making them look more natural with a deeper and more vivid appearance.
How is a crown put in place?
Placing a crown takes a few steps. Your dentist will make preparations on your teeth as necessary, clean decayed parts if any, and take measurements to make an exact copy (“impression”) of your teeth. Your crown will take its final shape from this model. When the crown is ready and complete, your dentist will fix it to the location. When both you and your dentist are happy and satisfied with the positioning and appearance of the crown, it will be permanently fixed.
How do you take care of crowns?
You should brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily. This process will eliminate bacteria plaque. The most important part is to clean the plaque forming in sulcus, where your teeth and gum meet. You may avoid chewing hard food and items to prevent crowns from any damage or breaking. As usual, regularly visiting your dentist will prolong crowns’ life.
How does a finished crown look?
One of dentists’ priorities is to shape the artificial tooth (cap) identical to natural tooth as best as they can. A number of factors including colour, shape, bite, and size of natural tooth and cap will be considered to achieve a perfect finish. Each of these factors can affect your appearance significantly. You must decide what kind of appearance you expect from this operation and discuss with your dentist at first session.
What exactly is a bridge, or a fixed denture?
It is a treatment to fill the gap left by lost teeth, based on support from adjacent teeth. There are two types:
- Fixed bridge, connection can only be removed by an expert.
Removable bridge, which can be removed by user when cleaning their mouth. It is not very common today.
Why do I need a bridge?
You may need it for your appearance, dental health, and teeth-jaw functions. A bridge can help preserve natural shape of your face and support your lips / cheek. Losing a molar may make you look tired and older than you actually are. More importantly, neglecting treatment for missing teeth is not good for your dental health. Each tooth has evolved to complement one another. When you lose a tooth, other teeth move towards the gap of missing tooth, or bend over time. The tooth on the opposite jaw will also extend towards the gap. These unusual teeth movement distresses both teeth and gum. Furthermore, gum and bone structure may be damaged. Normal – regular teeth connection is disrupted and physical cleaning is obstructed, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay.
Missing teeth also have negative effects on chewing and speaking. They actually help us make a lot of sounds - hence proper speech is only possible with a complete set of teeth. Besides, chewing only on one side puts a pathological weight on joints.
How is a bridge attached?
A fixed dental bridge is fixed towards the gap of missing tooth with support from adjacent teeth. Thus, an artificial tooth replaces missing tooth. Artificial tooth is attached to crowns placed on top of natural teeth.
Are there different types of bridges?
Yes! Implants fix the artificial tooth directly onto jaw or under gum. Implant procedure is a surgical operation with prerequisites: you need to be in good health in general and have strong bone structure that can support the implant.
Under certain conditions, a bridge fixed with adhesive (bonding) system (called Maryland Bridge) can be used to replace missing teeth. These bridges are attached to adjacent teeth with a special treatment and do not require crown procedure. Your dentist will determine which method will work best for you.
What kind of equipment is used in bridges?
When choosing bridge material, appearance and functionality are taken into consideration. A bridge can be made of gold alloy, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of all.
Zirconium Based Metal-Free Bridge
In this system, zirconium, a white alloy, replaces the metal infrastructure. This cutting-edge technological infrastructure product is the only material offers aesthetic beauty and durability together. One of the biggest advantages of this system is providing full aesthetic look in the back region bridges without compromising durability.
What is Zirconium?
For long years, a metal infrastructure under porcelain teeth was used for durability in porcelain applications. This metal infrastructure has known drawbacks regarding gum, tooth tissue, general health, and most importantly aesthetics, and seeking an alternative material for porcelain base continued for years.
Adapting zirconium, which has been successfully utilized in many other fields of medicine, into dentistry as a replacement for porcelain base has proven revolutionary.
New zirconium-base porcelain veneer is non-allergic, and does not cause any problems in gum. Light transmit properties helps achieve almost natural aesthetics and functionality.
Crowns and bridges made with ceramic over a zirconium base are known as CERCON. Offering revolutionary features such as the highest physical value with 900 Mpa resistance, high tissue compatibility, and effective against a variety of indications, CERCON kicked off a new wave of dentistry.
Zirconium’s efficiency is evident in medicine and industrial applications. After initiating the research and study in 1998, clinic applications spread worldwide after 2002. This new application eliminates patients’ aesthetic concerns, commonly observed in metal-ceramic and all-ceramic applications.
Where can it be used?
- One tooth crown restoration
- 3-6 member bridges (up to anatomic length 38 mm)
- Crown/bridge-over-implant applications
High Technology for Perfect Results
Until recently, zirconium oxide was not preferred in dental applications due to high production costs. A project developed by Zurich Federal Institute of Technology reduced zirconium production costs significantly, which enabled zirconium use in dentistry within affordable range. Zirconium has been used in medicine applications since 1960s, and long term studies has already proven material safety.
Zirconium has been used for a number of purposes in different parts of the body, particularly in hip replacement prosthetics, and has shown no side effects or allergic properties.
Zirconium is a light element, which can resist high temperatures and impact. It transmits light, but not heat or electric.
It is also a healthy material causing no taste change, gum problems, or bad breath in mouth.
Your teeth will be exactly copied into a wax model. A computer supported device will carve zirconium oxide block based on the information from this model to create infrastructure. Ceramic cap in appropriate colour will be placed on top of carved structure to finish the procedure.
Produced by cutting edge technology, zirconium oxide enables strong and aesthetic restorations to be metal-free.
Metal-free IPS Bridges
Produced by compressing strong porcelain in special devices. Commonly preferred for front teeth due to high light transmission. Although it is too brittle to be a good option for back teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need special glue?
- No, traditional methods work fine.
Can it be fixed temporarily?
- Yes.
Will I develop hot/cold sensitivity?
- No, you won’t be hot/cold sensitive. Zirconium oxide naturally insulates heat.
Does it cause any allergies?
- No, zirconium oxide is a tissue compatible material and does not cause allergies.
Is it opaque?
- No.
Will my gum recess?
No, research shows it has perfect gum tissue compatibility. Nevertheless, it would not stop gum recess that may naturally develop by age.
Compatible with your body and teeth in every way
CERCON applications have significant advantages for the user. CERCON ceramic placed over zirconium oxide resists food pieces and microorganisms and decreases surface-clinging ratios, ensuring better mouth hygiene. Zirconium oxide does not conduct heat, you will not be sensitive to hot or cold when you are eating.
How should I take care of my bridge?
It is essential to preserve our natural healthy teeth. You need to brush at least twice a day, and clean inner surfaces with appropriate tools (floss, specified brushes). Cleaners help remove the sticky bacteria layer we call ‘plaque’. Plaque may cause gum disease and tooth decay. If tooth or the bone holding it are damaged in any way, tooth may lose bridge support.
You need to take special care while cleaning around and under the bridge, as well as connection points with natural teeth. Floss and specific brushes will help you reach these areas. Most importantly, you need to visit your dentist regularly. Keep in mind that your dentist, the architect behind planning and construction, will naturally have great impact on lifespan of your bridge.
