A crown is a cap that fits over your natural tooth covering it completely. It is normally made from a porcelain or a combination of porcelain or metal. It is usually indicated if a tooth is damaged due to extensive decay, a large filling, or to to protect a root treated tooth. It may also be placed for cosmetic reasons.
It is necessary to first trim down the tooth before an impression is taken. The crown is made in a lab, usually taking about 2 weeks, during which time you will have a plastic temporary crown.
A bridge is used to replace a lost tooth/ teeth and may be suitable for filling smaller gaps. The tooth/ teeth adjacent to the gap is crowned with a false tooth attached.
A veneer is usually made form porcelain and is attached to the front surface of a tooth. This is normally placed to improve the appearance of a teeth, most commonly to change the colour or shape of a tooth.
A composite veneer is a cheaper option where the tooth is rebuilt using a white filling material, commonly know as composite bonding.
