Crowns
Crowns are one of the strongest possible solutions for damaged and fractured teeth and if done well, will function for much longer than a normal filling. They are formed to look and feel just like a natural tooth. Crowns are usually recommended when there is so much structural damage to an otherwise healthy tooth that other filling techniques will not be adequate. This damage may be caused by decay, trauma, cracks or through wear and tear. A Crown greatly strengthens teeth and gives a pleasing aesthetic result.
Not all Crowns are the same. Broadly speaking there are 3 main types.
- Full Metal – These are usually on teeth that cannot be seen and where utmost strength is required. They can be made from various materials such as gold.
- Porcelain Bonded to Metal – They consist of a metal base, which is not visible, with a layer of porcelain fused to the metal to give a strong and aesthetic restoration.
- Porcelain – These crowns have a superior appearance to a conventional crown. They are recommended where aesthetics is a high priority. They can be bonded to tooth tissue.
Veneers
Veneers can improve the shape, colour and position of your teeth by using a thin layer of Porcelain made to fit over the front surface of the tooth. A precise shape of porcelain can be chosen to lighten the upper front teeth or to reshape them, and can often be used to close small gaps when braces may not be viable or practical. Veneers are attached directly to your existing tooth structure, not dissimilar to a false fingernail, with minimal amount of the original tooth structure removed.