# Crowns and bridges

Crowns and bridges at Singh Advanced Dentistry in Gardens, Cape Town are custom-made restorations that cover a damaged tooth (a crown) or replace a missing tooth by attaching to neighbouring teeth (a bridge).

Crowns cover damaged or weakened teeth, while bridges replace missing teeth with support from teeth or implants. Treatment is planned around your oral health, function, and appearance.

## At a glance

- Who it's for: Damaged or missing teeth
- Time in the chair: 1–3 weeks (lab fabrication)
- Number of visits: 1 for suitable CAD/CAM cases; varies
- Recovery: A few days to weeks

## Overview

Custom crowns and bridges to restore damaged or missing teeth.

We'll explain your options, what to expect and the costs at your consultation.

## How it works

1. **Consultation:** We assess your teeth and talk through your goals and options.
2. **Your plan:** You receive a clear treatment plan and costs before anything begins.
3. **Treatment:** Treatment is carried out at a pace that suits you, with aftercare guidance.

## Your journey

1. **Consultation:** We examine your teeth, talk through your goals and explain the options and costs. (45–60 min, 1 visit)
2. **Preparation & scan:** The tooth is shaped and scanned digitally. (1–2 hours, 1 visit)
3. **Fitting:** Your crown or bridge is fitted and adjusted. (About 1 hour, 1 visit, sometimes the same day)

## Everything you need to know about crowns and bridges

Over time, teeth may become worn down, damaged, decayed — or even lost. At Singh Advanced Dentistry, we offer advanced, aesthetically pleasing solutions to restore your smile’s form and function. Two of the available options are dental crowns and bridges.

A dental crown is used to completely cover a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its shape, strength, and natural appearance. A dental bridge is a fixed solution used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring custom-made synthetic teeth between natural teeth or implants.

> While a crown restores a single tooth, multiple crowns can be placed at the same time — offering a comprehensive solution for patients with widespread dental concerns.

Together, these restorations help improve bite alignment, chewing function, speech, and overall confidence.

Thanks to advanced CEREC® CAD/CAM technology, we’re able to design, craft, and place your crowns and bridges in a single visit — right here in our Cape Town practice. In suitable cases, this system may avoid temporary restorations and multiple appointments.

This level of digital dentistry requires skill, training, and experience — and we offer this digitally planned treatment where appropriate.

Every restored smile tells a story — and at Singh Advanced Dentistry, we’re honoured to be part of that transformation. With each patient we serve, we combine expert care with state-of-the-art innovation to support you leave our practice smiling with pride.

**What is a Dental Crown?**

A dental crown is a custom-made restoration designed to completely cover a damaged, fractured, or decayed tooth — protecting it from further deterioration while restoring its strength, shape, and natural appearance.

Crowns not only improve the function of a compromised tooth but also enhance its aesthetic, blending seamlessly with your natural smile. They can also be placed over a dental implant to replace a missing tooth or used to reinforce a tooth with a large filling where little natural structure remains.

While a crown restores a single tooth, multiple crowns can be placed at the same time — offering a comprehensive solution for patients with widespread dental concerns.

**What are Bridges?**

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic solution used to replace one or more missing teeth. Made up of two or more artificial teeth, a bridge quite literally “bridges” the gap where teeth are missing — restoring both function and appearance.

Bridges are securely anchored in place using your surrounding healthy teeth, which act as strong supports for the custom-made porcelain prosthetics. This approach aims to support stability, comfort, and a natural look, while helping to preserve the alignment of your existing teeth.

Dental bridges are also a reliable alternative for patients who may not be candidates for implants or prefer a non-surgical option.

At Singh Advanced Dentistry, we craft all bridges from high-quality porcelain that’s colour-matched to your surrounding teeth, supporting a seamless, lifelike result — so your restored smile looks and feels completely natural.

### Why get a Crown?

- You may need a crown in the following situations
- To protect a weak tooth from cracking, breaking, or further damage
- To restore a broken, chipped, or worn-down tooth and prevent infection
- To halt the spread of decay, especially when it risks affecting nearby teeth

To cover a tooth with minimal remaining structure, especially when a large filling won’t suffice

- To conceal severely discoloured or misshaped teeth for cosmetic improvement
- To support a dental bridge or cover a dental implant
- Following a root canal, to reinforce the tooth and restore its function
- For cosmetic corrections to enhance alignment, shape, or colour

At Singh Advanced Dentistry, our crowns are expertly designed from high-quality porcelain or ceramic materials that are strong, durable, and colour-matched to your smile. Whether you’re seeking restorative treatment or cosmetic improvement, crowns offer a individualised solution with beautiful, natural-looking results.

### Kids and Crowns

In paediatric dentistry, crowns are often used to restore and protect primary (baby) teeth that are severely damaged or decayed. These crowns help maintain the integrity of your child’s teeth, supporting they function properly until their definitive teeth come in.

- A dental crown may be recommended for your child in the following situations
- To save a tooth that’s too damaged or decayed to support a filling

To protect teeth at high risk for decay, especially in children who struggle with daily oral hygiene

For children who require treatment without general anaesthesia, as crowns can be placed with minimal discomfort

Crowns for primary teeth not only restore function but also prevent further decay, allowing for healthy tooth development. At Singh Advanced Dentistry, we provide crowns designed specifically for children’s needs, offering a durable and aesthetic solution for their smiles.

### Benefits of Crowns and Bridges

- Protection from Decay: Since a dental crown fully covers a damaged tooth, it provides appropriate protection against further decay, helping to preserve the tooth’s health and function.
- Aesthetic Enhancement: Crowns can cover imindividualions such as stains, discolouration, chips, or unusual shapes. This not only enhances your smile but also boosts your confidence, giving you the freedom to smile without hesitation.
- Improved Functionality: For individuals who struggle with chewing or eating, a crown restores strength and stability, allowing for more comfortable and efficient biting and chewing.
- Prevention of Further Damage: A crown can hold together a cracked or weakened tooth, potentially reducing the need for extraction and delaying more invasive dental procedures.
- Restores Strength and Shape: Crowns reinforce weakened teeth and restore them to their original size, shape, and strength, improving both the tooth's function and overall appearance.
- Custom-made for You: Each crown is individually crafted to fit your unique dental needs, supporting a comfortable and secure fit that feels just like your natural teeth.
- Long-lasting Durability: When properly cared for, dental crowns may last for many years — often decades — providing you with a lasting solution for tooth restoration.

### Why get Dental Bridges

If you’re missing one or more teeth in a row but have healthy teeth on either side, a dental bridge could be the ideal solution to restore both the appearance and functionality of your smile.

### A dental bridge may be the right choice in several situations, including

- Severely decayed or damaged teeth: When a tooth is beyond repair and has either fallen out on its own or needs to be extracted.
- One or more missing teeth: To fill the gaps and restore your smile.
- Advanced decay or infection: When a tooth has become so damaged that neither a filling nor a root canal can save it, a dental bridge is often the suitable option.
- Restores Your Smile: A dental bridge seamlessly fills gaps, giving you a natural-looking smile that feels like your own.
- Improved Chewing and Eating: A dental bridge enhances your ability to chew and speak, greatly improving your overall quality of life.
- Maintains Facial Structure: By filling in the gaps left by missing teeth, bridges may support facial appearance; bridges do not prevent jawbone loss.
- Prevents Teeth from Shifting: Missing teeth can cause nearby teeth to shift and alter your bite, leading to further dental issues. A dental bridge keeps your teeth properly aligned, preventing shifting and supporting long-term dental health.

At Singh Advanced Dentistry, we use advanced techniques to provide custom dental bridges that restore the full functionality and aesthetics of your smile.

**How do Crowns work?**

At Singh Advanced Dentistry, our goal is to provide personalised, high-quality care. The process of getting a dental crown begins with an initial consultation where we assess your teeth to determine if a crown is the suitable solution for you. We can conduct a thorough examination and discuss the most suitable options based on your individual needs.

### Consultation and Assessment

We begin with a detailed examination of your teeth to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether a dental crown is the right option for you. If we agree that a crown is necessary, we can proceed with creating a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

### Tooth Preparation

The procedure starts with numbing the affected area to support you are comfortable. Once the tooth is fully numbed, the next step is to shape the tooth. This involves trimming the damaged tooth structure.

The amount of trimming required depends on the extent of the damage and the type of crown chosen. The goal is to create a tooth shape that fits the crown precisely, supporting long-term strength and stability.

### Impression and Mould Creation

After shaping the tooth, we can take an impression of the affected tooth and surrounding area. This process involves cleaning and drying the tooth before placing a retraction cord around it to move the gums back. We can then use impression material to create an accurate mould of the tooth.

We also take a ‘bite impression’ to support proper alignment for effective chewing and biting.

### Crown Fabrication

The impression is sent to a lab, where a plaster cast is made to design your custom crown. This process can take between 1–3 weeks. While waiting, we can place a temporary crown to protect the treated area.

### Crown Placement

Once your custom crown is ready, we can remove the temporary crown and numb the area again to support comfort. We can place the new crown on your tooth and check its fit. Multiple adjustments may be made to support the crown fits appropriately in both shape and alignment.

Once the ideal fit is achieved, we can securely cement the crown in place.

### Final Adjustments

After the crown is cemented, you may be asked to bite down on gauze or a sponge to help the cement set. We can then clean away any excess cement and support the crown is properly positioned.

**How do Bridges work?**

A dental bridge is an appropriate solution for restoring the function and appearance of your smile if you’re missing one or more teeth. At Singh Advanced Dentistry, we prioritise your comfort and satisfaction through a well-explained, step-by-step approach to getting a dental bridge.

### Initial Consultation and Assessment

Your journey begins with an in-depth consultation where we assess the condition of your teeth and determine if a dental bridge is the suitable option. During this consultation, we may discuss any other dental conditions that need attention, supporting we address all your concerns before moving forward.

### Preparation of Abutment Teeth

To prepare for the bridge, we need to shape the abutment teeth (the teeth on either side of the gap). This involves removing some of the enamel to create enough space for the crowns that may support the bridge. A thorough cleaning may also be done to remove any decay, supporting that your teeth are healthy and ready for the procedure.

### Impression and Model Creation

After preparing the teeth, we take an impression of your teeth using a soft, putty-like material. You may bite into it, leaving an exact indentation of your teeth. This model is then sent to our dental lab, where they may craft your custom-made bridge.

While waiting for the definitive bridge, a temporary bridge is placed over your abutment teeth to protect them.

### Fitting and Adjustment of Permanent Bridge

At your next appointment, we can remove the temporary bridge and try the definitive crowns for proper fit and alignment. If everything fits appropriately and meets your expectations, we can securely cement the bridge in place using a strong, definitive adhesive.

### Final Adjustments

After the bridge is placed, we check your bite to support it feels natural and comfortable. If necessary, we can make adjustments to avoid any discomfort. Additional visits may be needed to fine-tune your bite and resolve any other concerns.

- Custom Design: Your bridge is made to match the natural appearance of your teeth, supporting a seamless, natural look.
- Expert Care: We take great care to support that your bridge fits appropriately and functions well, restoring your ability to chew and speak comfortably.
- Ongoing Support: We can provide follow-up visits to support the bridge remains in top condition and make adjustments if necessary.

At Singh Advanced Dentistry, we’re committed to providing you with suitable dental bridges that restore both the aesthetics and functionality of your smile.

**What is the recovery?**

Recovery time varies from person to person and depends on the complexity of the procedure and the extent of dental work performed. It’s common to experience some tenderness or soreness in your teeth, mouth, and gums following the placement of a dental bridge. This is completely normal and should subside within a few days.

However, it may take a few weeks for your gums to fully heal after the procedure.

If you experience persistent discomfort or if symptoms worsen over time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to support a smooth recovery and provide the care you need.

**How long do Crowns and Bridges last?**

With proper oral hygiene, regular maintenance, and routine dental check-ups, crowns and bridges may last for many years — sometimes over a decade, although lifespan varies. Consistent care, such as professional cleaning and diligent home brushing and flossing, significantly extends their lifespan.

However, crowns and bridges can become loose or fall out over time, typically due to factors like the wear and tear from chewing hard foods, ice, or other tough objects. Additionally, dental issues such as tooth decay or bone loss may also contribute to the loosening of crowns or bridges.

Get in touch with our Gardens practice to learn more about how we can transform your dental care. Our friendly, experienced team is here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

Call us today for a more comfortable, comfort-focused dental experience.

Book online or contact our practice to arrange a consultation.

Book a consultation: https://singhadvanceddentistry.com/book

Source: https://singhadvanceddentistry.com/services/crowns-and-bridges