Crowns: protect and rebuild a damaged tooth
A crown is a custom-made cap that covers a tooth that's cracked, heavily filled, worn down or weakened after root canal treatment. It restores the tooth's strength and shape and protects what's left of it. Acclaim Dental makes full-coverage ceramic crowns in-house using CAD/CAM technology, so in many cases your crown is designed, milled and fitted the same day.
You may need a crown if you have
- A cracked tooth or a large old filling that keeps breaking
- A tooth that's had root canal treatment
- A tooth worn flat by grinding
- A badly discoloured or misshapen tooth
Bridges: replace a missing tooth
A bridge fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth. It's a row of connected crowns, anchored to the teeth either side of the gap. Bridges are fixed in place, look natural, and restore chewing and speech. They're a good option when the neighbouring teeth would benefit from crowns anyway.
What to expect
Assessment and digital scan
We check the tooth, take a digital scan with our iTero scanner (no gooey impressions) and plan the shape and shade.
Preparation
The tooth is numbed and shaped. For same-day crowns, the restoration is designed on screen and milled while you wait. Otherwise a temporary crown is fitted.
Fit and adjust
The crown is checked for fit, bite and colour, then bonded in place.
Same-day crowns: how it works
With traditional crowns you have the tooth prepared, wear a temporary for two weeks while a laboratory makes the crown, then come back to have it fitted. With CAD/CAM the whole process happens in one visit. The tooth is scanned with the iTero scanner, the crown is designed on screen while you watch, milled from a block of ceramic in our on-site unit, glazed, and bonded to the tooth. Most same-day crowns take about two hours from start to finish.
Not every case suits same-day. Front teeth where colour matching is critical, or teeth needing a metal-based crown, may still go to the laboratory. Your dentist will tell you which is right for your tooth.
Signs you may need a crown
- A tooth that's cracked or has a crack line you can see
- Pain when you bite that goes away when you release (classic cracked tooth)
- A large filling that's broken or keeps breaking
- A tooth that's had root canal treatment and hasn't been crowned
- A tooth worn short or flat from grinding
- A tooth that's badly discoloured or misshapen
Bridge or denture or implant?
A bridge is fixed, feels most like natural teeth, and is done in a few visits. It relies on the teeth either side, which need to be strong enough to carry it. A partial denture is removable, more affordable, and doesn't touch the neighbouring teeth. A dental implant replaces the root as well as the crown and doesn't involve the neighbouring teeth at all; implants are provided at our sister practice, Coral Coast Dental in Bargara, and we can refer you. Your dentist will go through which suits your mouth, your health and your budget.
Looking after crowns and bridges
Brush and floss as normal, and clean under a bridge daily with floss threaders or interdental brushes. The tooth under a crown can still decay at the gum line, so home care and check-ups matter. If you grind your teeth, a night splint protects your investment. Avoid using crowned teeth to open packets or crack nuts.
Risks and things to consider
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
A crowned tooth can occasionally become sensitive or need root canal treatment later, and ceramic can chip under heavy grinding. Your dentist will discuss the specific risks for your tooth before you decide.