Teeth Restoration – Crowns, Bridges & Veneers

If you are suffering from tooth decay, severe tooth pain, damage or discolouration, crowns, bridges and veneers are all viable options that could help improve the look and health of your smile.  

The best option for you will depend on your individual circumstance. We will always recommend the most suitable option for your mouth and will be happy to work with you to accommodate your wishes and fit our dental services to suit your budget.  

Dental crowns, bridges and veneers are often used when a simple dental filling is not appropriate. Below we’ve given some information on each service to help you understand which option is best for your mouth and circumstance.  

Dental crowns 

Often when a tooth cannot be restored with a filling, a dental crown is the best option.  

Crowns are long-lasting restorations that can be custom made to fit the exact shape and shade of your natural teeth. A dental crown is a cap that fits over a damaged or discoloured tooth to improve the outward appearance of that tooth (or teeth) and ensure a full and complete smile. Teeth crowns also help to protect and preserve the damaged tooth or teeth so it lasts for longer.  

Crowns can be made from either metal or porcelain. Advancements in modern dentistry mean that porcelain crowns can now be made to match your natural shade exactly, meaning a crown is virtually unnoticeable when placed in the mouth.  

Crowns are commonly used in conjunction with dental implants as they are fitted on top of the implant to act as the natural l replacement tooth.  

 In the case below, an old porcelain crown was replaced with a modern one to enhance the overall look and strength of this patient’s smile. The materials present in the new porcelain crown are very aesthetically pleasing and are an excellent match to the surrounding natural teeth. 

CASE ONE | pic 1	CASE ONE | pic 2

Dental bridges  

Using bridges for teeth is a highly effective cosmetic dental procedure that helps “bridge the gap” left by a missing or removed tooth. It is a permanent solution to replacing missing teeth and does not involve invasive surgery.  

The dental bridge works by using the teeth on either side as support. An artificial tooth is placed in the gap and is then bonded to the existing teeth on either side.  

There are two main types of dental bridges.  

The first is where the neighbouring teeth are fitted with porcelain crowns, which are then used as support for the dental bridge, with the artificial tooth filling in the empty gap in between the newly fitted crowns.  

The second type of dental bridge is called an adhesive bridge. This only works if the neighbouring teeth are strong and healthy, therefore eliminating the need for prosthetic crowns. An adhesive bridge is essentially a false tooth with ‘wings’ so that it can be supported by the natural teeth on either side. The wings are bonded to the inner surfaces of the natural teeth, giving the artificial tooth the support and strength it needs to function as a permanent replacement tooth.  

Bridges are a quality alternative to dentures and dental implants for replacing missing teeth.  

A veneer is a wafer-thin layer of tooth-colored porcelain which is accurately bonded onto the front surface of a damaged or discoloured tooth to improve the tooth’s strength and appearance.  

Veneers are a perfect dental solution for patients suffering from teeth that are: 

• Chipped 

• Stained 

• Cracked 

• Damaged 

• Misshapen  

• Crooked 

With veneers dentistry, your natural tooth remains intact but is covered up so that it not only looks better but is also stronger and more durable when it comes to chewing, drinking and brushing.  

Teeth Veneers are fast to install and do not involve any invasive or painful surgeries. They are also highly effective at brightening your teeth and improving the overall aesthetic appearance of your smile. Veneers can also easily be removed and updated by your dentist if any problems do occur.  

As seen in the case below, veneers sometimes need to be updated if other cosmetic procedures have changed the overall look of the smile. For this patient, the veneers were no longer a good match to the shade of teeth due to a recent tooth whitening procedure. Therefore, the two old veneers were replaced with new ones to match the improved shade of her smile, resulting in a perfect, full smile that looks completely natural.

CASE ONE | pic 1	CASE ONE | pic 2

Nice before and after pictures of an in standing tooth modified with the addition of a veneer.

CASE TWO | pic 1	CASE TWO | pic 2

Get in touch for quality tooth restoration work 

If you think that either dental crowns, dental bridges or teeth veneers are a good dental solution for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Edinburgh dental practice today.  

We can offer you our expert advice and ensure that your teeth are treated with the most appropriate dental treatment that will make sure they are looking and feeling their best.  

Call us: 0131 229 7899 

Email us: smile@ssedinburghdentist.com 

Or book an appointment online through our website.