Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges - Practical Guide 2023
EXPIDENTAL
Best of Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges
Functions & Smile
Clinics specializing in modern dental bridges
You can trust our well experienced specialists
Contents
Definition of a Dental crown
Dental crowns are caps placed on top of damaged teeth or dental implants. When dental crowns are fused together to cover several damaged teeth, they can be called a bridge or eventually a denture if they cover the entire dental arch.
Depending on the indication, the budget and the aesthetic preference of the patient, dental bridges are made with varied materials such as resin, metal, or ceramic. They protect and improve the appearance of teeth, facilitate chewing and speech, and maintain the integrity and shape of the mouth and jaw.
Categories of Dental Bridges
There are two main categories of dental bridges, including temporary dental bridges and fixed dental bridges.
Temporary dental bridges
Temporary dental bridges are used temporarily during the healing period after the placement of dental implants, and before the placement of the permanent bridge. These bridges are usually made from resin, allowing the patient to maintain good aesthetics and acceptable chewing function during this waiting period.
Permanent Dental Bridges
Permanent dental bridges are usually made with more durable materials such as metal and ceramic. They can be categorized into two main types: a partial dental bridge and a full dental bridge. Partial dental bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth, while full dental bridges are used to replace all teeth in a jaw.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are three types of dentures including:
- Removable dentures
- Clip-on semi-removable dentures
- Fixed dental bridges
Removable Dentures
Removable dentures, also known as false teeth, are a type of prosthesis that can be taken out for cleaning, maintenance, or to give the gums a break. They come in two types: partial, to replace one or a few missing teeth and supported by metal hooks, or complete, to replace all teeth in a jaw and supported by the gum and sometimes the palate. Made from resin and acrylic plastic, these dentures are less durable and comfortable than other options, but they are a budget-friendly and necessary solution when dental implants are not feasible.
Removable dentures
Partial, removable denture
Designed to replace a toothless area of the jaw when a solution with dental implants is impossible or too expensive for the patient.
Partial removable denture
Full, removable denture
Quick and inexpensive solution for a complete rehabilitation of a toothless jaw. However, this solution lacks the comfort and stability necessary for good chewing.
Full removable denture
Clip-on, Implant retained dentures (overdentures)
Implant retained dentures are removable dentures that are attached to dental implants using clips.
Implant retained dentures
Full arch removable dentures can be attached to 2-4 dental implants using clips or a metal junction bar. This solution provides better stability than traditional dentures and can fully rehabilitate the jaw. However, good oral hygiene and regular maintenance (including clip replacements) are necessary, and the false palate in the upper jaw can affect the patient’s taste perception.
Implant retained denture
Fixed Dental Crowns and Bridges
Fixed dental crowns and bridges are the most permanent solution for rehabilitating teeth. Made of biocompatible materials like ceramic or zirconia, they can replace one or more missing teeth or all teeth in a jaw. Types include crowns, bridges, and full dentures. They can be attached to natural teeth or dental implants and offer greater durability than removable dentures.
1. Dental Crown
A dental crown is a type of dental prosthesis that covers the visible portion of a tooth, providing protection and aesthetic improvement. It is used to strengthen a damaged or decayed tooth or to replace a missing tooth when attached to a dental implant. Crowns are custom-made from materials like metal, ceramic, or zirconia to fit each patient’s tooth and mouth.
There are several types of dental crowns:
Metal Crown
An old method used with a non-precious metal such as Nickel or Chrome or replaced with a precious metal such as gold in case of allergy.
All Ceramic Crown
This crown made of ceramic is very aesthetic and looks like natural teeth. On the other hand, it has a low resistance to chewing forces and is recommended for the front teeth. However, a new material that consists of a mixture of ceramic and zirconia called Emax seems to significantly improve the strength of this type of crown.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown
As its name suggests, the porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is a ceramic crown mounted on a metal frame giving it better resistance to chewing forces. This type of crown is often used in complete dentures cemented on implants.
Zirconia or E-Max Crown
Expidental Choice
Made with the very robust Zirconia-based materials, these crowns are exceptionally durable and very resistant to chewing forces. In addition, they have an excellent aesthetic effect.
2. Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a dental prosthesis composed of several dental crowns attached together and anchored on adjacent teeth to fill the space left by a missing tooth. Dental bridges can be made of metal, ceramic or zirconia and offer a cheaper and less invasive option than dental implants.
Bridge on natural teeth
Dental bridges can also be placed on one or more dental implants to rehabilitate a portion of the jaw.
Bridge on implants
Full Dental Bridge
Full dental bridges are used to replace all the teeth of a jaw. They are made of resin, ceramic or zirconia. Fixed complete dentures are usually cemented or screwed to the remaining teeth or dental implants.
Full dental bridge on 6 to 10 implants offers the best result and the closest solution to the natural dentition in terms of chewing and speech comfort. These prostheses help slow down bone resorption caused by the loss of natural teeth, prevent the collapse of the cheeks and face, and allow patients to regain perfect aesthetics.
Full implant-supported dental bridge
Full implant-supported dental bridges can be sealed (cemented) or screwed onto implants. The screw-retained option offers the advantage of being easily removable for repairs.
- 209-337-5705
Expidental choice
Screw-retained implant supported bridge
Price of Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges
The cost of dental crowns and bridges can vary based on location, material type, and manufacturing method. Dental treatment abroad may offer significant cost savings of up to 70% compared to prices in France or the UK. It is recommended to consult our price comparison table for more information.
| Item | Price in UK | Price Expidental | Expidental EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Metal-ceramic crown |
600 £ |
155 £ |
180 € |
|
Ceramic crown |
700 £ |
210 £ |
240 € |
|
E-Max crown |
750 £ |
280 £ |
325 € |
|
Zirconia crown |
1000 € |
205 £ |
235 € |
|
Screw-retained zirconium bridge |
14,000 £ |
2 630 £ |
3 060 € |
Manufacture of Dental Crowns
There are several methods of making dental crowns, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Among the best known methods are:
Traditional method
This method involves taking a mold of the tooth and creating a plaster impression. Plaster is used to create a mock-up of the crown, which is then used to make the crown using a material such as acrylic, metal or ceramic. This method is quite time-consuming and can take several days.
CAD/CAM digital method
This method uses a digital camera and CAD-CAM software to quickly create a ceramic or zirconia crown. The digital camera takes an image of the tooth and the software creates a custom crown. The crown is then made using a robot and a block of ceramic, E-Max or Zirconium.
Dental Restoration with Expidental
Expidental , English speaking group, offers you :
- State-of-the-art clinics adhering to the best European standards
- Highly qualified and experienced dental surgeons
- Top quality dental implants of major brands and
- Durable and aesthetic high-end dental crowns and dental bridges, made of ceramic, zirconium, E-max and monolithic zirconium with several layers, as well as screw-retained implant supported bridges.
With Expidental you also benefit, free of charge, from the following services:
- Assistance in organizing your travel
- Airport transfer and accommodation
- Panoramic X-ray and 3D scanning
- Preparation of your care reimbursement file