A crown wraps a weak or broken tooth (or sits on an implant) and restores its shape, strength and appearance; a bridge replaces a missing tooth with crowns on the teeth or implants on either side. Today most crowns are made digitally — a scan instead of an impression, computer design, milling from zirconia or porcelain — so the fit is precise and the shade is stable.
The materials
| Material | Strength | Aesthetics | Where it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monolithic zirconia | Very high | Good (new generations — very good) | Molars, long bridges, grinders |
| Porcelain on zirconia | High | Excellent | Front teeth, smile zone |
| Lithium disilicate (E.max) | Medium-high | Excellent, natural translucency | Single front crown, veneers |
| Porcelain fused to metal | High | Good; a grey line at the gum is possible | Less used; specific cases |
Implant crown — screwed or cemented
A screw-retained crown can be removed for treatment and maintenance without damage; the screw hole is sealed with tooth-coloured composite. A cemented crown looks better when the angle does not allow a hidden screw hole — but requires meticulous removal of excess cement. With guided planning the implant can usually be angled so the crown is screw-retained and the hole hidden.
The process
Minimal reduction, a digital scan (no impression material, no gagging), a provisional crown for a week or two, then the permanent crown from the digital lab: fitting, bite check, fixation. Two visits, sometimes three.
Frequently asked questions
Implant overdenture or fixed bridge — which is better?
A fixed bridge feels closest to natural teeth. An implant overdenture costs less, needs fewer implants and less bone, supports the lips well and comes out for cleaning. For many people it is the right solution. We decide together based on the mouth, habits and budget.
Zirconia or porcelain?
Monolithic zirconia — the strongest, for molars and bridges. Porcelain on zirconia — the most aesthetic, for the smile zone. E.max — for single front crowns. Usually we combine by area.
How long does full-mouth rehabilitation take?
Without implants — a few weeks. With implants — 4–9 months, and with bone grafts up to a year. Throughout, you have functioning provisional teeth.
My teeth are worn from grinding. What can be done?
A rehabilitation that restores bite height and tooth length — crowns or veneers — together with a night guard that protects the result. Everything is tested in provisionals before the permanent restoration.
How many visits is a full-mouth rehabilitation?
Without implants: 6–8 visits over one or two months. With implants you add the surgery and the healing months, but the number of visits itself does not grow much. Most are short — the long ones are the surgery and the try-in of the provisionals.
Can the bite be raised without touching every tooth?
Sometimes — with crowns or onlays on the back teeth only, and the front teeth adjusted with light reshaping. It depends on how much has worn and where. When it is a little, a partial solution. When the face has already “shortened”, it is the whole mouth, and there is no way around it.
Do the provisionals look good, or am I walking around “under construction”?
Our provisionals are your new teeth in a test version: same shape, same shade, different material. People go to weddings in them. That is what they are for — to test in real life before copying to zirconia.
How does this work alongside my regular dentist?
Well. We do the rehabilitation; your family dentist carries on with cleanings, fillings and whatever is outside our field. We send them a summary letter with the implant passport, and if they want, we talk to them directly.
Want to know if immediate loading is right for you?
A first consultation at any network clinic includes an exam, a reading of your scan and an explanation of the options — no obligation.