Crowns and bridges in Woonona, understand your choices before restoring a tooth

A crown covers one tooth you still have. A bridge replaces a missing tooth with an artificial tooth that is joined to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. So a bridge uses crowns as its support, but a crown on its own does not replace anything.

If your plan mentions both words, the quickest way to understand it is to see which of your teeth would be crowned and which space would be filled. The Dental bridge guide describes how a bridge is supported, and the Guide to crowns, bridges and veneers covers both treatments.

A crown is usually suggested for a tooth that is cracked, heavily filled, badly decayed or has had root canal treatment. A bridge needs healthy teeth on both sides of the gap. If you are not sure which one fits your situation, tell the dentist what bothers you most. Our dental implants page explains another way to replace a missing tooth, and you can ask how it compares.

A gap on its own does not settle it. The dentist checks the teeth either side, because a bridge is joined to crowns on them. Those teeth need to be healthy, and that they are usually filed down to prepare them. If you would rather keep neighbouring teeth untouched, say so early.

Decay or gum disease near the gap may need treatment first. The Dental bridge guide explains what is looked at. Your dentist may also take an X-ray and can show you on it what they see around the gap.

If a bridge turns out not to suit you, there are other choices. You can ask about a removable denture, and our dentures page explains how those work. Mention how the gap affects you, such as trouble chewing on that side or feeling self-conscious when you smile, so the advice you get speaks to your own concern and not only to the tooth. You can take your time before deciding, and you can ask the dentist to explain anything again.

The dentist shapes the tooth so there is room for the crown and checks that the edges are smooth. They may use a local anaesthetic first to numb the area. An impression or digital scan is then taken so the crown can be designed to fit your tooth and your bite.

Many people worry about how much of the tooth is removed. It is a fair question, and the dentist can explain what your tooth needs and why. The Guide to crowns, bridges and veneers describes how a temporary crown can protect the prepared tooth until the final crown is ready. Ask whether you will have one and how to look after it.

Tell the dentist if you feel anxious about the scan or the sounds, or if you have had trouble with numbing in the past. They can adjust how they work and pause when you ask. You can raise any of this through our contact page before the visit, so you arrive knowing what to expect.

A local anaesthetic numbs the area being treated, so you should not feel pain while the tooth is shaped. You may still notice pressure or movement. Agree a signal with the dentist, such as raising your hand, so they can stop and check on you at any time.

Local anaesthetic does not make you unconscious. The Local anaesthetic guide explains that it can cause discomfort at the injection site, and that the area occasionally does not go numb enough. If that happens, tell the dentist straight away so they can help.

Tell the team about any earlier bad reaction to an injection, the medicines you take and anything about the visit that worries you. If dental visits make you very anxious, mention it when you book so the dentist can plan around it. You can raise these points through our contact page before your appointment. The numbness wears off after the visit, so ask the dentist what to do about eating and drinking until it does.

Our crowns are completed over two visits. At the first visit the tooth is prepared and an impression or scan is taken. At the second visit the finished crown is fitted and your bite is checked. A bridge also needs more than one appointment, and you may have a temporary bridge while the permanent one is made. Your dentist will tell you the number for your own plan.

Because the crown is made in a laboratory between the two visits, it helps to book them with enough time between them and to tell the team about any travel. The Crown procedure guide explains that the number of visits can vary.

Our practice is at 379 Princes Highway, Woonona, and parking at the rear is reached from Haddon Lane. If work, caring duties or travel make timing hard, mention it through our contact page when you book. The team can then plan both visits around your week, and you will know before you start when the second visit is.

Ask your dentist about the possible problems. A crown can come loose, chip, break or fall off. The tooth under it can break or decay. The gums around it can become sore or swollen, and a poor fit can cause pain or trouble chewing. Crowns can last for many years if they are cared for properly.

A crown cannot decay, but the tooth underneath still can, so keep cleaning your teeth and gums every day. The Crown procedure guide describes these risks. They are possibilities, not a forecast for your tooth, and your dentist can tell you which ones matter most for yours.

Bridges can also fail, usually because of decay in the natural teeth next to them or because the cement fails. Regular visits help the dentist spot problems early, and our check-up and clean page explains what a check-up involves. If you notice a crown that feels different from before, describe where and when you feel it. That detail helps the dentist work out the cause.

Sometimes. A filling or a veneer can be an alternative to a crown when enough of the tooth is sound, but a heavily broken-down tooth may need the extra coverage of a crown. The Dental treatment guide explains that an onlay covers less of the tooth than a crown. Which repair is realistic depends on how much natural tooth remains.

Our teeth coloured fillings page explains fillings. A filling is not an alternative to a bridge, because it cannot replace a missing tooth.

For a missing tooth, you could ask about a denture or a dental implant. An implant is a metal screw, usually titanium, placed in the jawbone in place of the tooth root, and it is placed in stages over a few months. Tell the dentist what matters to you, for example avoiding work on neighbouring teeth or avoiding a removable appliance. You can also decline or pause a proposed treatment after talking through the options and risks.

Ask for the estimate in writing, with the tooth or teeth named and the item numbers listed, so you can check them against your policy. Ask whether anything else, such as treatment to the tooth underneath, might be added later. For current fees, you can read our fees or call the practice, and you can also see our patient offers.

Health funds may class crowns and bridgework as major dental, and what they pay depends on your policy. The Guide to the cost of dental care explains how cover differs. Having extras cover does not confirm a benefit for this treatment, so ask your fund to check the item numbers before you start.

If the total is a worry, say so when the dentist presents the plan. Ask which parts of the estimate are firm and which could change, and what happens if you decide not to go ahead. Keep the estimate and your fund's reply together, so any difference is easy to query. We do not quote prices here because the cost depends on your tooth and the plan.

Clean a crown the way you clean your other teeth. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth. A bridge needs one extra step, because its crowns are joined together and ordinary floss cannot pass between them.

The Dental bridge guide mentions superfloss, floss threaders and interdental brushes for cleaning beneath a bridge. Ask your dentist which one suits your bridge, and ask them to show you the technique. If you find it hard to reach the area or to handle the tool, tell them. A different size or tool may help.

The tooth under a crown can still decay, which is why keeping the edges clean matters. Regular visits help too; our check-up and clean page explains what those involve. If you grind your teeth at night and use a night guard, bring it along, because a new crown can change how it fits. Tell your dentist about any bleeding or discomfort around the crown, so they can look at it.

Contact the practice soon if a crown or bridge feels loose, breaks or makes biting uncomfortable. Do not wait for it to settle. Say when you first noticed the change, which tooth it is and whether you have had a temporary or final crown. A loose, broken or poorly fitting crown is a recognised complication that needs assessment.

The Crown procedure guide describes these problems. It cannot tell you the cause in your case, so describe what you feel and let the dentist assess it. Mention any swelling, fever or bad taste, or a recent knock to the mouth. Our contact page has the details for getting in touch, and our emergency dentist page covers urgent concerns.

If you have trouble breathing or swallowing after an injury to the mouth, call 000 or go to an emergency department. Do not use a routine online enquiry for that. Keep any piece that has come off and bring it with you. Until you are seen, ask the team what to do about eating and cleaning around the tooth.