Consent for Crowns & Bridge Prosthetics

A crown is a custom-made cap that covers and protects a weakened or damaged tooth. A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by joining a false tooth to crowns on the teeth beside the gap. Both are made by a dental laboratory and cemented in place. Every care is taken in planning and making them, but how well and how long they work cannot be guaranteed.

1. Shaping the tooth. To make room for the crown, the tooth is reshaped, usually with local anaesthetic. As little tooth as possible is removed. Swelling, sore jaw muscles, or numbness of the lips, tongue or face can follow. These almost always settle, and only rarely last.
2. Sensitivity. Prepared teeth are often sensitive for a while, from mildly to quite strongly. It may pass quickly or take longer. Let us know if it does not settle, because it may have another cause.
3. Root canal treatment. The nerve inside a crowned tooth can become inflamed or die, especially if the tooth has had deep decay, a large filling or an injury. The tooth may then need root canal treatment and, less often, surgery or removal.
4. Chipping or breakage. Crowns and bridges can chip, crack or come loose, for example from biting hard foods or objects, grinding, or a blow to the mouth. A crack may not show until much later. Breakage soon after placement is rarely caused by faulty materials.
5. How it feels. A new crown or bridge can feel different from a natural tooth at first. Most people adjust within a few weeks. Occasionally, jaw muscle or joint soreness lasts longer.
6. Appearance. You will see your crown or bridge in your mouth before it is permanently cemented, so you can check and approve its shape and shade.
7. Temporary crowns. Temporaries are only meant to last a short time. If the appointment to place the final crown or bridge is missed or delayed, teeth can shift, and the final work may no longer fit and may need to be remade at extra cost.
8. How long it lasts. Lifespan depends on many things, including oral hygiene, diet, grinding or clenching, general health and regular checkups. No specific lifespan can be promised.

Contact us promptly if anything feels wrong or unexpected. Follow the care instructions you are given, and keep all scheduled appointments, including the appointment to cement the final crown or bridge.