Crowns and Bridges in Bilekahalli, Bengaluru

When you might need it

A crown may be recommended when a tooth:

• Has had root canal treatment, especially a back tooth.
• Has a large filling and little of the natural tooth left.
• Is cracked or broken.
• Is badly worn down, for example from grinding.
• Is discoloured or misshapen, and a filling or veneer isn't enough.

A bridge may be an option if you are missing one or two teeth in a row and the teeth either side of the gap are strong and healthy enough to support it.

Choosing a crown material

We'll suggest a material based on where the tooth is, your bite, how much of the tooth is left, and how it needs to look.

Bridge, implant or denture?

If you are missing a tooth, a bridge is one of three ways to replace it. A bridge doesn't need surgery and is usually ready in 2–3 weeks, but the teeth either side are trimmed to hold it. An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, but involves a minor surgical procedure and takes a few months. Our dental implants page compares a bridge, an implant and a removable denture side by side.

What happens, step by step

1. Examination and X-ray. We check the tooth (or the teeth either side of the gap), the gum and the bone, and look at how your teeth meet when you bite.
2. Treatment plan and written estimate. You receive the number of visits, the material and the total fee in writing before treatment begins.
3. Preparing the tooth. With local anaesthesia if needed, the tooth is trimmed on all sides to make room for the crown. If a lot of the tooth is missing, it is first built up with a filling (a core), or with a post if it has had root canal treatment.
4. Recording the shape. We record the prepared tooth and your bite with a digital scan or an impression, and choose the shade to match your teeth.
5. Temporary crown. A temporary crown or bridge protects the tooth while the final one is made in the dental laboratory.
6. Fitting. At the next visit, we check the fit, the bite and the colour, and cement the crown or bridge in place.

Possible risks

• Sensitivity after the tooth is trimmed, which usually settles within a few weeks.
• The nerve of the tooth becoming inflamed. A tooth that was heavily filled or deeply decayed can need root canal treatment later, even after the crown is fitted.
• The crown coming loose or chipping, especially with grinding or very hard food. It can often be re-cemented or repaired.
• Decay at the edge of the crown or under a bridge if food and plaque collect there. Daily cleaning prevents most of it.
• For bridges: the supporting teeth carry extra load. If one of them develops a problem, the whole bridge may need to be replaced.

We go through the risks that apply to you before you decide.

After your treatment

• With a temporary crown, avoid sticky and hard food, and slide floss out sideways instead of pulling it up.
• Some sensitivity to hot and cold is normal for a few days.
• If your bite feels high once the numbness wears off, call us: it's a quick adjustment.
• Clean around a crown like a natural tooth. Under a bridge, use a floss threader or an interdental brush to clean beneath the false tooth every day.
• If you grind your teeth, ask us about a night guard to protect the crown.

Call us if a temporary or permanent crown comes off (keep it and bring it with you), the tooth throbs or the gum swells, or the bite still feels uneven after a day.

Fees

The fee depends on the material, the number of units, and whether the tooth needs building up first. You receive a written estimate after the examination, before treatment starts. Call or WhatsApp us if you'd like an idea of the cost.