Dental crowns and bridges in Setapak

A crown is a cap that covers a damaged tooth and restores its shape and strength. A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth using the neighbouring teeth for support. Klinik Pergigian Genting provides both at our clinic on Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak.

Assessment starts from RM25.

Starting price, not a quotation. Your personalised treatment plan and fee estimate will be provided following assessment.

When a tooth needs a crown

A filling replaces missing tooth structure. A crown covers what remains. Crowning is usually recommended when there is not enough sound tooth left for a filling to hold reliably:

• After root canal treatment. A root-treated back tooth can be more vulnerable to fracture, particularly when a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost. A crown or other cuspal-coverage restoration may be recommended to protect it.
• A cracked tooth. A crown holds the remaining structure together.
• A large old filling that keeps failing. At a certain point, repeatedly replacing a filling stops working.
• A heavily worn tooth, from grinding or acid erosion.
• On top of a dental implant.

If a filling would do the job, a filling is the better answer - it costs less and preserves more tooth. We will say so if that applies.

Crown materials

Crowns start from RM900 per unit.

Which crown material is usually recommended?

There is no single best material for every tooth. Zirconia is commonly chosen for back teeth where strength is important, while E.max is often preferred for highly visible front teeth where appearance is the priority. Porcelain-fused-to-metal remains a reliable option in selected cases. Your dentist will recommend the material based on the tooth, your bite, appearance and the amount of tooth remaining.

How a crown is fitted

1. Assessment. Examination and X-ray to check the tooth and the bone around it. If the nerve is infected, root canal treatment comes first.

2. Preparation. The tooth is shaped under local anaesthetic to make room for the crown, and an impression is taken.

3. Temporary crown. A temporary is fitted to protect the tooth while the permanent crown is made.

4. Fitting. The permanent crown is checked for fit, bite and colour, then cemented.

Bridges: replacing a missing tooth

A bridge spans a gap using the teeth either side as supports. Those teeth are prepared and crowned, with the replacement tooth joined between them. It is fixed in place and not removed for cleaning.

A conventional bridge uses a support on each side of the gap. It is the most common type.

A cantilever bridge is supported on one side only, used where there is a suitable tooth on just one side of the gap.

An adhesive (Maryland) bridge uses wings bonded to the back of the neighbouring teeth instead of crowning them. It requires far less removal of tooth structure, but is suitable only in selected situations and can sometimes debond.

Bridge or implant?

A bridge often makes sense when the neighbouring teeth already need crowns anyway. An implant usually makes more sense when they are healthy and untouched.

Looking after crowns and bridges

The crown itself cannot decay. The natural tooth underneath and at the margin still can, and that is the most common reason a crown eventually fails.

• Brush and clean between teeth as normal
• Clean under a bridge daily with a floss threader or interdental brush - this is the step people skip, and it is where problems start
• Avoid biting very hard objects
• Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
• Keep up regular scaling and check-ups

What it costs

Crowns and bridges both start from RM900 per unit.

A bridge is priced by the number of units it spans. A three-unit bridge - a replacement tooth with a crown either side - is costed as three units.

Consultation starts from RM25, and a PA X-ray is RM60.

Starting price, not a quotation. Your personalised treatment plan and fee estimate will be provided following assessment.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a crown last? It depends on the material, your bite, and how well the margin is kept clean. Crowns are long-term restorations rather than permanent ones, and they are usually replaced at some point. Regular check-ups catch problems at the margin early.

Does getting a crown hurt? Preparation is done under local anaesthetic. Some sensitivity while wearing the temporary crown is common and settles once the permanent one is fitted.

Can a crown come off? Yes, occasionally. Keep it and contact the clinic - it can often be re-cemented. Do not try to glue it back yourself.

What is the difference between a crown and a veneer? A crown covers the whole tooth. A veneer covers only the front surface. Veneers are cosmetic; crowns are structural.

Can I have a bridge if I only have a tooth on one side of the gap? Possibly, using a cantilever design. It depends on the strength of the supporting tooth and the chewing load. Your dentist will advise.

Is saving a tooth with a crown better than extracting it? When a tooth has a good long-term prognosis, preserving the natural tooth is usually preferred. However, some teeth are too badly damaged or have a poor prognosis, in which case extraction and replacement may be the better option.