Porcelain Crowns and Bridges - Private Eliz Dent Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic

Porcelain crowns and bridges are fixed prostheses that are applied when there are a few missing teeth in the mouth. They are made by reducing (preparing) the adjacent supporting teeth or by creating a bridge between implants, or by reducing teeth that have extensive decay or discoloration. The prepared teeth are then sent to a laboratory, and the prostheses are fabricated and cemented onto the teeth.

These are restorations placed on the visible parts of the teeth and cannot be removed by the patient. The manufacturing process takes about a week and is completed in 3-4 sessions after the teeth are prepared and impressions are taken.

Fixed prostheses can be applied in two ways: metal-supported or metal-free. While metal-supported fixed prostheses provide sufficient resistance to functional forces in the mouth, they can cause aesthetic problems and sometimes negatively affect the natural appearance. The main reason is that the metal blocks the direct passage of light through the tooth.

Due to these disadvantages of metal-supported ceramic restorations, ceramics with high fracture resistance have been developed. Zirconium, in particular, is the most up-to-date material used in this field.
Accurate indication is the most important step for successful treatment. Respecting the dentist’s knowledge and experience in selecting the material is essential for treatment success.

In which situations can porcelain crowns be used?
Porcelain crowns can be used if there is excessive material loss or decay in a tooth.
Porcelain crowns can be applied to discolored teeth whose color cannot be restored.
Porcelain crowns can be used for teeth with shape irregularities.
Porcelain crowns can be placed on weak, root canal-treated teeth to prevent fractures.
Porcelain crowns can be applied on top of implants.
Porcelain crowns can be used to repair broken teeth.

If there is one or more missing teeth in the mouth, a bridge can be made. The gaps created by missing teeth may cause adjacent teeth to shift or rotate into the empty space, potentially leading to issues such as a misaligned bite. Missing teeth can also result in gum disease and temporomandibular joint problems. Bridges can be used to replace one or more missing teeth by filling the space. They are attached to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the gap. These supporting teeth, known as abutments, act as anchors for the bridge. The replacement tooth that fills the gap is attached to these supporting crowns.

If missing teeth are not replaced, the neighboring and opposing teeth may move toward the extraction space. This can lead to poor occlusion, tooth decay, and further tooth loss. When a tooth is lost, the adjacent teeth move toward the empty space, which can cause gum problems in neighboring teeth, bone loss due to tooth migration, aesthetic deterioration, and changes in chewing force. If an implant or a bridge is not used to restore this gap over a long period, additional tooth loss may occur. Other problems that arise if a missing tooth is not replaced include chewing deficiencies leading to digestive disorders. Depending on the location of the missing tooth, speech problems and aesthetic concerns may also occur.

Well-made porcelain crowns or bridges can last a lifetime, depending on the patient’s oral care, and they do not produce bad odors. For ideal care, patients should brush their teeth twice a day and use dental floss once a day. Of course, they should not forget to have regular check-ups with their dentist.