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Important COVID-19 UpdateMore Info

Dear Valued Aardent Dental Centre Patient, It seems that all we hear and talk about these days is COVID-19(Coronavirus). Nevertheless, we want to reassure you that we are taking extra measures in addition to our usual stringent hygiene practices. The health of our patients, staff and anyone who enters the building is of paramount importance to us. We are taking a multitude of precautions as recommended by the appropriate health authorities (and some of our own). These include,

  • Spacing of waiting room chairs by a minimum of 1.5meters.
  • Removal of magazines, newspapers and children’s toys from the waiting room.
  • Offering patients to wait in their cars if they prefer.
  • Insisting that all people who enter the building use hand sanitiser (provided).
  • Asking all people to practice high levels of cough/sneezing hygiene.
  • Requesting that anyone with a temperature/flu like symptoms contact us and postpone their dental appointment.
  • Regularly sanitising building surfaces like doorknobs etc.
  • Requiring patients for some procedures to rinse with 1% hydrogen peroxide solution (known to kill coronavirus in the mouth).
  • Availability of non-contact body temperature devices for patient screening if the situation escalates.

Please rest assured that we are open for business and able to continue our excellent level of treatment for you.

As you will be aware the situation is ever changing as will be our response. We will endeavour to keep you informed along the way.

Kindest regards,

Richard Williams

and the

Aardent Dental Centre Team

Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges: What are They and How do They Compare?

by | Jan 17, 2022 | Dental Care

Dental bridges

The right restorative dentistry allows you to eat without pain, and can create a winning smile. 

Crown or bridge? The answer depends on your situation. Providing advanced dentistry in Perth, Aardent Dental Centre has been helping West Australians make these kind of informed oral health decision for more than three decades.

Why do teeth need crowns?

Examples where a crown is employed include a tooth that is:

  • Too decayed and weak to hold a filling.
  • Chipped or cracked.
  • Extremely sensitive.
  • Requiring root canal.
  • In need of cosmetic improvement.
  • An implant requiring coverage.
  • Anchoring a dental bridge.

Fixed to the teeth, crowns protect the existing base with a sealed surface. This process takes two visits. Sometimes crowns are also referred to as caps. Please note we only use trustworthy crowns made right here in Australia.

Does a crown resemble a tooth? 

An artificial covering that resembles a real tooth, crowns can be carefully designed to mimic natural teeth. However, some prefer the decorative aspect of crowns that are clearly made from alternate materials.

Crowns are available in a variety of strong substances, shaped to complement alignment and bite. Certain factors are taken into account when choosing your preferred material, including the crown’s placement in the mouth.

How do I select a crown?

For a loadbearing tooth—used when chomping tough food—a stronger material is preferred. At Aardent Dental Centre we regularly recommend gold, zirconia or pressed lithium disilicate for rear teeth.

Toward the front of the mouth, where the smile’s aesthetic is also of concern, our team generally suggest a restoration made from zirconia base, with hand-layered porcelain over the top, matching nearby teeth.

What is the crowning process?

We begin by reducing the existing tooth, making room for the new structure atop. A mould is prepared to secure an impression of your tooth. Until the crown is ready, we place a temporary crown on the tooth. 

When the personalised crown has been created, a second appointment takes place. The temporary crown is removed, and the new crown is fixed securely to the tooth, using the dental version of cement. 

What are dental bridges?

Missing teeth can cause an array of problems, as nearby teeth shift in response, risking gum and jaw issues. Dental bridges are the primary alternative for those who cannot undergo dental implants.

Dental bridges include false teeth used to replace one or more missing teeth. A variety of bridges are available. They cement to natural teeth, or in most cases, teeth on either side are crowned as part of the bridging process.

How are bridges made?

The process is similar to crowning, but with the creation of a false tooth or teeth in the centre, cemented to prepared surrounding teeth, that may or may not need to be crowned. Specifics depend on dental needs.

Multiple appointments are required, with a mould taken, and a temporary bridge and/or crown/crowns put in place once teeth are prepped. Later the final bridging, usually ceramic, is cemented in place.

So should I choose a dental crown or dental bridge?

Discuss this with one of our dentists. A crown is suited to salvaging damaged or aesthetically displeasing teeth. A bridge is more about addressing one or more missing teeth—but is not the only option, thanks to Implant Dentistry.

You should always feel at ease with your choice. We pride ourselves on answering all questions, offering dental advice tailored to your lifestyle and budget. Contact us today in Victoria Park to discuss your dental solutions.