CROWNS, BRIDGES & INLAYS
In some cases, the cavity that needs filling is quite large, but the surrounding tooth is healthy. A composite filling may not be strong enough, but it would seem pointless to remove more of the healthy tooth in order to make a crown, in these cases an inlay may be the answer.
The 'inlay' is made using porcelain, resin material or gold and is made by a highly skilled technician and fitted by your dentist.
Crowns are used to repair teeth that are cracked, broken or have large cavities and to strengthen teeth rendered more brittle by root canal therapy. Crowns can also offer a cosmetic solution when teeth are very discoloured or uneven.The purpose of the crown on a tooth is to transmit the load brought about by chewing food, directly onto the root structure below. The root, in turn, disperses this load into the jaw.
When large fillings wear out, it is best to restore with a crown. A crown gives the same reinforcement to the top part of a tooth, as rings give a barrel. Back teeth with large fillings, lack such extra coronal support and are more susceptible to breaking. Provision of a crown covers and protects the main body of a damaged tooth. Crowns are usually made from porcelain which has been strengthened by bonding it to a precious metal. They are made by a highly skilled technician and fitted by your dentist.
A bridge is made from porcelain bonded to precious metal and can be used to replace a missing tooth only if there are teeth either side of the space. The teeth on either side of the space however, have to be cut down to facilitate the fitting of the bridge.