BRIDGES, CROWNS, INLAYS AND ONLAYS

Bridges are used to cover up a missing tooth. Although one can get a new tooth with dental implants, but that process is intrusive, requiring complex surgeries and months of time to get completed. Bridges are an alternative to dental implants, in case you have healthy tooth around the missing ones.

There are two types of dental bridges:

• Bridge supported by crowns on either side of the missing tooth 
• False tooth cemented on side walls of adjoining tooth

These could be PFM based or Zirconia based.

DISADVANTAGES

Since there is no bone underlying the bridge, the jawbone recedes gradually. Also, the healthy enamel of healthy teeth is to be removed to put bridge in place. A better alternative is to get tooth replaced with Dental Implant.

Over time, your tooth can get damaged. This can happen for a variety of reasons, like tooth decay, injuries or just use over time. If not damaged, your tooth can simply lose their shape or size. Your tooth is damaged during certain procedures like Root Canal Treatment and Dental Implants as well.

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped and tooth coloured caps that can be placed over your tooth to help restore their shape and strength. 

PORCELAIN FUSED METAL (PFM) CROWN - It is a type of dental crown which is made up of ceramic (porcelain) fused to metal. It can be matched to the colour of the teeth that’s next to the crown. It has a more natural tooth colour. However, sometimes the metal under the crown’s porcelain cap shows through as a dark line. Other cons include the chance of the crown’s porcelain portion chipping or breaking off and the crown wearing down the teeth opposite it within the mouth.

ZIRCONIA CROWN - It is a type of ceramic crown that's stronger than porcelain and some metal alloys, and has lesser chances of chipping or breaking off. Zirconia is the choice of many dentists for its biocompatibility, which means it’s less likely to provoke the body into producing a reaction or immunological response like inflammation. One potential disadvantage of a zirconia crown is its opaque appearance, which can make it look less than natural.

Onlays and 3/4 crowns are types of ceramic crowns that don’t cover as much of your underlying tooth as traditional dental crowns. A traditional crown will cover your entire tooth. Onlays and 3/4 crowns may be appropriate when you still have a solid tooth structure. It’s considered a more conservative approach compared to full coverage of your crown. In this procedure, your dentist removes the affected area and performs a reshaping of the tooth to receive the crown.

Inlays and Onlays offer stronger and more aesthetic alternative to traditionally used composites for dental fillings. However, their prosthesis is not adaptive and if not done correctly may cause unwanted pressure on the tooth.