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At Northside Dental Solutions, we're dedicated to providing exceptional dental care to our Clayfield community and beyond. We understand that patients often have questions about treatments, costs and what to expect during their visit. This comprehensive FAQ page addresses the most common queries we receive.
Our team believes in transparent communication and patient education. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to ring our friendly reception team. We're here to ensure you feel informed and comfortable with all aspects of your dental care journey with us.
Crowns and Bridges
At Northside Dental Solutions, we understand that losing a tooth can be more than just a cosmetic concern. A dental bridge offers a comprehensive solution to help you maintain optimal oral health and restore your confident smile.
When one or more teeth are missing, a dental bridge provides several critical benefits beyond simply filling a gap. Our experienced dental team recommends bridges as an excellent option for patients seeking a reliable tooth replacement method.
The Health and Dental Benefits of Bridges
One of the primary advantages of a dental bridge is its ability to prevent tooth shifting. When a tooth is lost, surrounding teeth naturally tend to gradually move into the empty space. This movement can lead to misalignment, which can cause significant dental complications over time. A bridge effectively maintains the proper positioning of your teeth, preserving your natural bite alignment.
Moreover, bridges play a crucial role in protecting your facial structure. By preventing bite collapse, they help maintain the natural contours of your face and avoid the sunken appearance that can occur with tooth loss. This structural support is vital for both aesthetic and functional reasons.
Key benefits of a dental bridge include:
- Prevents Tooth Shifting — Keeps surrounding teeth in their correct position
- Maintains Bite Alignment — Ensures proper tooth positioning and function
- Protects Facial Structure —Prevents bite collapse and maintains facial contours
- Restores Chewing Function —Allows you to chew and eat comfortably and confidently
- Enhances Smile Aesthetics — Provides a natural-looking replacement for missing teeth
At Northside Dental Solutions, we're committed to helping you achieve optimal oral health with personalised, high-quality dental care. If you're considering a dental bridge in Clayfield, our friendly team is ready to discuss how we can help you restore your smile and confidence.
A dental crown and a dental bridge are both restorative options typically fabricated from high-strength, high-quality porcelain. A crown functions as a cap, designed to be placed over an existing individual tooth. This is done to protect the tooth from fracture or to enhance its appearance, while the natural tooth structure remains in the mouth beneath it.
In contrast, a dental bridge is utilised to replace one or more missing teeth. It involves placing crowns on the teeth adjacent to the gap. A pontic, which is a false tooth, is then fused between these two crowns, effectively "bridging" the space. The entire structure is a single, fixed appliance that is cemented into the mouth and is not removable. Maintaining a dental bridge requires diligent oral hygiene practices to ensure its longevity and the health of the supporting teeth and gums.
The primary reason a crown fails is due to tooth decay forming around its edges, rather than the crown itself breaking or fracturing. To ensure your crown lasts as long as possible, it is essential to maintain excellent oral hygiene. This involves brushing the crown, flossing around it, and using interdental brushes, just as you would for your natural teeth. These practices are crucial for preventing both tooth decay and gum disease, which are the main threats to the longevity of your crown.
Dental crowns and bridges are typically made from one of three main materials. The first is gold, which is an excellent choice for posterior teeth due to its strength and biocompatibility. It also requires less removal of the natural tooth structure. However, gold is not suitable for front teeth due to its colour.
The other two options are porcelain-based materials. Zirconia is a very strong, white material and is the most commonly used for crowns and bridges today. For cases requiring very high aesthetic results, such as veneers, a different type of porcelain called lithium disilicate (also known as Emax) may be more appropriate. It is important to note that while lithium disilicate offers superior aesthetics, it is not as strong as zirconia. It is best to discuss with your dentist which material is the most suitable for your specific needs.
The literature suggests that a crown or bridge has an average lifespan of ten to fifteen years. However, it is common to see them last much longer than fifteen years. Crowns and bridges very rarely break. The main reason they fail is due to tooth decay developing on the tooth that holds the crown or bridge, similar to getting a cavity elsewhere in the mouth. This is why it is so important to clean around your crowns and bridges as well as possible to ensure they last as long as possible.