DENTAL
CROWNS AND BRIDGES
Dental crowns, also
known as “caps,” preserve the functionality of damaged
teeth. Crowns may be used to protect a cracked tooth, restore
functionality of a tooth with excessive decay, or replace a
pre-existing crown. The purpose of a dental crown is to encase a
needy tooth with a custom-designed material.
Dentists today
have a variety of conservative treatment options through which to
restore teeth. If possible, these options should be explored and
discussed before selecting the full coverage crown.
Why
Do I Need a Crown?
If
you want your smile to be your crowning glory, you need healthy,
attractive teeth. When they are cracked, stained or damaged,
however, your teeth detract from your dental health and your
appearance, too. To restore them, we may recommend crowns.
The following will help answer some of the common questions
you may have about crowns.
What
are crowns and why are they used?
A
crown is a restoration that covers or caps a tooth to restore
it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen
or improve the appearance of a tooth. A crown is placed for
a number of reasons:
•
To support a large filling when there isn't enough tooth
remaining
• To attach a bridge
• To protect weak teeth from fracturing
• To restore fractured teeth
• To cover badly shaped or discolored teeth
• To cover a dental implant
MATERIALS FOR CROWNS AND BRIDGES
The three predominant choices of
restorative materials for the full coverage crowns are:
The material selected is determined
by the clinical demands at hand; esthetic demands, strength
requirements, material durability and restorative space
available.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal
crowns provide for a strong, durable, and esthetic treatment
option. One of the key factors for the esthetic and functional
success of this type of crown is ensuring the preparation of the
underlying tooth structure provides adequate space for the
appropriate thickness of the material selected. Additionally, the
artistic skill of the laboratory technologist creating the crown
will determine its esthetic appeal.
One consideration in the
porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is that these crowns may tend to
show the underlying metal or gold margin at the gum line as gums
recede over time. Some patients opt for this type of crown, but
replace the crown at a later date in order to maintain a higher
esthetic benefit. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns with an all
porcelain collar can eliminate this vulnerability.
The predominant material
choice for all-ceramic crowns today is either zirconia, or
aluminous materials. They provide a metal-free esthetic option
with a number of benefits.
By eliminating the need
for the supportive metal core, an esthetic all-ceramic crown can
be created with a reduced thickness of material. This makes them a
more favorable treatment choice in areas with limited space.
Additionally, the elimination of the metal core allows for light
transmission through the porcelain for better optical, life-like
properties and a higher level of esthetics.
All-ceramic materials
continue to evolve in strength and durability, but caution should
still be exercised for areas of the mouth requiring heavy
function. Continuing research is exploring the significant
vulnerabilities of the porcelain systems in such areas.
Gold Crowns
Although not as popular a
treatment choice for esthetic reasons, gold crowns are still
indicated in some instances. For example, patients with strong
bites and those with parafunctional habits (such as grinding or
clenching) might be better served with gold crown. The traditional
restorative material can provide stronger support to the remaining
healthy tooth structure. Gold crowns offer a level of durability
that is appropriate for teeth located in the back of the mouth
(such as the molars), where they will not be highly visible. Gold
crowns tend to offer greater longevity and require less
preparation than porcelain and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
When chewing, gold tends to be less abrasive to the opposing tooth
than porcelain. This helps to prevent wearing of the teeth.
How long
do crowns last?
This will depend largely
on how well you look after your teeth. Dental crowns require the
same level of care and attention as your natural teeth. Provided
you have a good oral hygiene program and attend regular check ups
at the dentist and do not suffer from teeth grinding, maintain a
tooth-kind diet and do not do things like open beer bottles with
your teeth then a high quality dental crown can last 10-15 years.
DENTAL
BRIDGES
One or more missing teeth
can adversely affect the appearance and functionality of your
smile. Missing teeth can cause a change in occlusion (bite),
shifting of the teeth, temporomandibular joint disorder, speech
impediments, an increased risk for periodontal disease and a
greater chance of tooth decay.
Dental bridges, like
implants and partial dentures, are used to replace
missing teeth. There are several types of fixed dental bridges
(cannot be removed), including conventional fixed bridges,
cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges.
Typically, conventional
and cantilever bridges require shaping of the teeth surrounding a
missing tooth. Crowns are then placed on the shaped teeth and
attached to an artificial tooth (called a pontic).
A resin-bonded bridge
requires less preparation of adjacent teeth. It is often used to
replace front teeth, provided that the gums are healthy and the
surrounding teeth do not have extensive dental fillings.
The Dental Bridge Procedure
During the first visit,
the dentist examines the health of your gums and other teeth to
evaluate if you are a candidate for a dental bridge. If you are a
candidate for a dental bridge, you are given a local anesthetic so
the dentist can prepare the teeth required to support the bridge.
If the support teeth are decayed or badly broken down, the dentist
may have to build them back up before they can be used as support
teeth for a bridge.
Next, the dentist takes an
impression of the prepared teeth with a putty-like material that
is used to create a model of your teeth. Your bridge is fabricated
based on this model by a skilled lab technician so that it
precisely fits the prepared teeth. It is important that your
restoration fit perfectly to avoid additional oral health problems
such as tooth decay.
While your bridge is being
fabricated, the dentist fits you with a temporary bridge so the
teeth and gums can be protected from damage until your permanent
bridge is ready.
To complete the dental
bridge procedure, you must return to the dental office for a
second visit to have the bridge fitted and cemented.
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal
Crown (Regular Alloy) |
THB 10,000 per tooth |
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal
Crown (Noble Alloy 2% Gold) |
THB 12,000 per tooth |
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal
Crown (Noble Alloy 54% Gold) |
THB 15,000 per tooth |
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal
Crown (Precious Alloy 87% Gold) |
THB 18,000 per tooth |
| All Ceramic Crown
(Empress II) |
THB 12,000 per tooth |
| All Ceramic Crown (E-max)
new Empress generation |
THB 15,000 per tooth |
|
Procera and
Cercon Crown |
THB 17,000 per tooth |
