If you are unsatisfied with the overall appearance of your teeth, are missing teeth, or have damaged teeth, veneers, crowns, and bridges are potential solutions to improving your smile and restoring the functionality of your teeth.
What are veneers?
Dental veneers are small, porcelain laminates that are used to cap over and cover the front surface of your teeth. Small, tooth-coloured caps are custom-sized and shaped to fit the individual’s mouth.
Structurally, veneers are very thin, and only cover the surface. They’re permanently bonded to the tooth, so they cannot be removed. The tooth does not need to be ground down, as is done with crowns and bridges.
A patient will get veneers when they are dissatisfied with the appearance or look of their natural teeth and want to improve it. They can also help with teeth that are stained, chipped, or worn down.
What are crowns?
A dental crown is a type of cap that is placed over a single tooth. The crown is most commonly made from porcelain, although they can be done with metals, resin, or ceramic. The crown is shaped and sized to match the surrounding teeth, and installed with oral surgery.
Crowns are a way for dentists to repair and restore functionality as well as appearance to a patient’s oral cavity. They are often used when a tooth is severely damaged or decayed beyond repair.
To install the crown, the dentist must file down the tooth to fit the crown over it. The filing also removes any decaying portion of the tooth to stop the spread. After it is filed down, the crown is installed over the tooth.
What are bridges?
Bridges are another way to restore the functionality and appearance of a tooth that has been damaged or chipped, is decaying, or must be removed entirely. Like crowns, they are most often made from porcelain, although the crown can also be made with metals, resins, or ceramic material.
Bridges are made by creating a series of false teeth, to bridge the gap between a missing tooth or damaged tooth and the surrounding teeth. The tooth is removed entirely, and the surrounding teeth may need to be filed down. Then, the bridge is placed over the gap and the surrounding teeth to create a natural-looking set of teeth that match the rest of a patient’s teeth.
