A crown is a cap that is built over a tooth that is non vital and brittle following root canal treatment or heavily restored. The crown is used to reduce easy fracture of the tooth.
A bridge is a series of crowns joined together
The material used may be PFM (porcelain bonded to metal crown or Zirconia which is a full porcelain crown.
If the supporting teeth of the bridge are undamaged, it is best not to do a bridge and have an implant crown done instead so as not to involve neighbouring teeth.
Maintenance of crowns and bridges
1 Regular check up / scaling & polishing by the dentist every six months
2 The patient should floss regularly and brush the crown margins gently.
3 Ice and hard stuff like crab shells should not be cracked with natural or crowned teeth.
Indications for crowning
1 Heavily restored tooth due to possibility of fracture
2 Satisfactorily done root canal treated tooth usually darken with time. see circled tooth.
3 A bridge is a good indication where both supporting teeth are heavily filled so crowning them will strengthen these supporting teeth.
Night Grinding or Bruxism
Night grinding and clenching
Night grinding, or clenching, is an unconscious habit that wears down the teeth. The exact cause is not known, though stress and an uneven bite have been suggested. It is usually a night-time habit, and the patient is often unaware of it. A nightguard may be made to prevent further damage to the teeth and their supporting structures.
Signs and symptoms
The jaw joints may feel sore on waking
Teeth may become sensitive to temperature as enamel erodes
Others may notice grinding sounds during sleep
Visible wear – yellow dentine showing through worn enamel, reduced tooth height, and abfractions or cavities at the necks of the teeth
Treatment
A night guard is recommended to protect the teeth from further deterioration.
