Back To Blog

The 3Dental Guide to Crowns and Bridges

03 July 2019

Table of Contents

At 3Dental we get a lot of patients coming in and asking about dental crowns and bridges without any real understanding of what they are.

Because we have our own dental lab in-house, we can offer dental crowns and bridges at lower prices than at other dental clinics. So, before we begin let’s have a look at exactly what dental crowns and bridges are and see how they are used.

What is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns procedure explained - Dr.Carmen Anastasiu - 3Dental
Dental Crowns - Dr.Carmen Anastasiu Crowns

A crown is a ceramic covering for a tooth that has been compromised or weakened with a large filling or is very discoloured.

They consist of a small “cap” that is added to the top of the damaged tooth and are usually made from porcelain, however, a variety of different materials are available depending on your individual requirements.

What is a Dental Bridge?

Dental Bridges explainer video - Dr. Carmen Anastasiu - 3Dental
Dental Bridges - Dr.Carmen Anastasiu Bridges

A bridge is a series of crowns which are bonded together and which ‘bridge’ the gap where a tooth or teeth are missing.

So you see, crowns and bridges are essentially the same thing. However, they are used for different reasons.

How Much Do Crowns Cost?

The 3Dental Guide to Crowns and Bridges - Dental Bridges - Before - 3Dental
The 3Dental Guide to Crowns and Bridges - Dental Bridges - After - 3Dental

Before and After (Click to enlarge)

Bridges

That depends on the material used. Our aim has always been to match the prices of clinics in eastern Europe and our prices are incredibly affordable.

A typical Emax crown costs €550 and a typical zirconia crown costs €550 Dr. Niall Vallely

We offer flexible payment options and for larger cases we can in certain instances reduce prices further.

Crown Treatment TypeTreatment Cost
Composite Onlay€350
Emax Crown€550
Zirconia Crown€550
Porcelain Layer High Aesthetic Crown€750

The full pricing breakdown of our treatments can be found on our pricing page.

How Much Do Bridges Cost?

Treatment TypeTreatment Cost
Bridges€500 per tooth

The full pricing breakdown of our treatments can be found on our pricing page.

What are Dental Crowns and Bridges Made Of?

Dental Lab
Dental Crowns and Bridges Laboratory

Unlike crowns and bridges of the past, which were made of metal covered in porcelain, modern crowns and bridges are made of ceramics.

In highly aesthetic zones e.g. a front tooth we usually use a material called Emax. This is the most natural looking of all ceramics and looks superb.

In less aesthetic zones e.g. back teeth we tend to use zirconia which is less natural looking but is stronger. For very large bridges we also use zirconia as it is very strong and rarely breaks or cracks.

The 3Dental Guide to Crowns and Bridges - Dental Crowns - Before - 3Dental
The 3Dental Guide to Crowns and Bridges - Dental Crowns - After - 3Dental

Before and After (Click to enlarge)

Crowns
At the 3Dental laboratory, our in-house technicians are very talented at making crowns and bridges look natural and lifelike. They are often heavily involved with the dentist/patient relationship and we rely greatly on them in helping us determine the best material and tooth shading for the crowns and bridges. Dr. Peter Doherty

How Is A Crown Or Bridge Made?

Having our own in-house dental laboratory makes this a very straightforward process.

Dental Scan x-ray machine

First, we need to assess the tooth or teeth to see how suitable they are for a crown or bridge.

We may need to take an x-ray or with severely broken-down teeth, perform a root canal procedure, prior to preparing the tooth.

When we’re ready to proceed we will numb the teeth with local anaesthetic, then we will take a small impression of the teeth to be prepared so that we can place a temporary crown over the teeth after the appointment has finished. Once we have finished preparing the teeth we will either scan or take an impression.

dental lab CAD CAM technology

We have heavily invested in ultra-modern scanning equipment and are increasingly scanning only.

The scan is digitally sent to our lab where our technicians will mill it using our CAD CAM technology.

We will then arrange a return appointment to fit the crown or bridge and if the patient is happy we will also bond it then.

Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Suitable For Everyone?

Warren Tellgreen - crowns - before - 3Dental
Warren Tellgreen - crowns - after - 3Dental

Warren Tellgreen (Click to enlarge)

Crowns

Both are only used when a tooth is heavily compromised.

Bridges are used to close spaces where teeth are missing but we prefer if possible to place an implant as we don’t have to prep healthy teeth. That said, if the tooth on either side is heavily filled then we are happy to place a bridge and it may be the best option.

Also, where there are gum issues, crowns and bridges may not be the best option, at least until the gum issues are under control.

Your dentist will be able to advise you of your option when you attend for your free consultation.

What Guarantee Do I Have For My Dental Crown or Bridge Work?

dental laboratory

For a crown or bridge to break is unusual. It is rare, but it can happen. All work carried out at 3Dental is fully guaranteed for 5 years.  We will replace at no cost, any damaged crown or bridge. Unfortunately, we cannot repair ceramic so it has to be replaced.

However, because of our advanced dental lab technology, we can usually replace a crown in a day at the touch of a button.

Now you can’t get better than that!

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this post on how we work with dental crowns and bridges at 3Dental. 

For a more detailed outline of how the dental crown procedure actually works, check out our post entitled: The Dental Crown Procedure Explained.

If you would like to improve your smile, then get in touch today to find out how we can help :)

Recent Reviews

Owen

“Never bothered by having to go to the dentist again. I had to get whitening, bonding and a crown done over the space of a year and it was a great experience. The team are A1 and Fergal is a great...”

Keith O'Brien

“I would highly recommend 3Dental. This time last year I was in constant pain with infections and my teeth were in a bad way. I came across 3Dental while searching for dental implants. I had...”

Eileen Dempsey

“I have just had my Implant, from Doctor Peter Doherty, and have to say i was treated so well from start to finish, and the end result is amazing. I am so very happy with my new smile, i will attend...”

Viv van der Holst

“Firstly apologies for the delay in writing this review. I have been too busy smiling again :) And chewing food normally. I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel towards Dr Andoni Jones and his...”

Sean Dentur

“I got 6 implants over past 2 years in 3Dental. Very efficient/professional and kind staff. Would highly recommend them.”

Whitney Culleton

“I had an consultation for composite bonding with a female dentist back in December and I left not feeling great about the app so rather than leaving a bad review I reached out to Dr Niall for a...”

Tara Henshaw

“I had composite bonding done with Dr Carmen and gingivectomy with Dr Andoni Jones , they were both brilliant. Thanks so much to them both they were so friendly and so good at their job I'm delighted...”

Caitlin Morrison

“I've been going to 3Dental the last year with Dr Carmen. She's amazing so nice and her work is great Got my composite bonding with her defo recommend always give advice and always there if needs be...”

Jane Russell

“Such a brilliant clinic with fantastic service. Had to have a couple of things done with fillings and bonding so I saw a number of dentists, all of whom were total pros and expert at what they do. A...”

Caroline O'Brien

“I have had lots of treatment and also my 2 daughters here in 3Dental which included root canal wisdom tooth extraction crowns and now implants and All on the same premises. All staff we have met have...”

Zoe Bates

“I had 8 edge composite bondings on the top done and I'm super happy with my results. After braces my teeth were straight but all different sizes/shapes on the edge so bonding was the perfect...”

Abby Garcia

“Excellent place and fantastic job. I'm so happy with my veneers. I've wanted normal teeth for over 30 years and I'm so so happy with the results achieved by Dr Daniel Kim. Such a nice guy and really...”

Laura O'Brien

“Would highly recommend 3Dental to anyone. I have been getting a lot of cosmetic work done between, dental implants, crowns and veneers and through every stage they have walked me through what would...”

Michelle Walsh

“Got my smile back thanks to Paul and Andoni! Started my treatment this time last year and wish I had done it sooner! Paul is such a perfectionist and really listens to you (I was a nervous patient)...”

Nicola Myler

“An accident happened the weekend with my front tooth veneer I am from Waterford and couldn't get an appointment down here for another 2 weeks so I was so upset and my sister told me to ring 3Dental...”

Helen Redmond

“Amazing experience with 3Dental. Got Invisalign which didn't move one tooth. Needed to get fixed braces but it was seamless. Also had my braces during Covid pandemic. Although I could go to the...”

Emma Keating

“I had composite bonding done here by Dr Carmen. She was very patient and made sure I was completely happy with the final result before I left, she even offered to fix anything I was unhappy with...”

Lyle Andre

“Outstanding service from start to finish, I recently had my braces removed after 2 years with 3Dental and I have never been happier with my results. The lovely Katrina was my very competent dentist...”

The Scarlet Gamer

“I am so happy with the professional service I receive anytime I go to 3Dental. The new office is spacious & well designed. The staff are friendly & efficient. I love how they offer everything under...”

Lorraine Fleming

“I am in the process of having a front bridge to replace a bad front tooth, I am overwhelmed with the difference already, I'm actually smiling again and my confidence has already improved. Niall and...”

Ready for the Next Step? Book Your Free Consultation

Book A Consultation View Pricing Options