Crowns, Bridges and Veneers

Crowns, bridges and veneers are in some ways the bricks and mortar of traditional restorative dentistry; they make damaged teeth look good and work properly again and, owing to modern materials, they can all now be affordable and long lasting.

So, what exactly are they?

• A crown is a cap fitted over a damaged tooth to restore its function and appearance.
• A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth and it bridges the gap between the adjacent teeth, fusing one or more false teeth to crowns that are fixed to either side of the gap.

A crown can cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth left, and can be used to attach a bridge or protect a weak tooth from breaking. It’s a good solution for teeth that are discoloured or badly shaped, or after root canal treatment when teeth can become brittle as a result of losing nerves and blood supply.

As we are seeing an ageing population, more people are in need of this type of work. At Starlite Dental Care we focus on trying to save individual teeth wherever possible, and so rather than file down adjacent teeth for a bridge we often recommend fitting a temporary bridge (we think everStick bridges, for example, are amazing because they last for years, only take half an hour and cost under £400, which can change people’s lives).

Veneers can be used to close small gaps when braces are not suitable, and if a tooth is slightly out of position a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others. At Starlite Dental Care you have a choice on price, appearance and durability – we offer:

• Direct composite veneers-ONE VISIT
• Lumineers® (the number one patient-requested veneer)
• Porcelain veneers
• Composite Venners

We will help guide you to the most suitable option for your budget and expectations.

All veneers(except direct composite- ONE VISIT) take at least two visits: first the tooth is prepared by removing a small amount of the surface to create room for the shell, we then take an impression for the dental technician with the colour of the surrounding teeth matched on a shade guide and a temporary veneer may be placed on the tooth between appointments.