Services
Crowns & Bridges
A crown saves a tooth that's structurally compromised. A bridge replaces one that's already gone. They solve different problems, and they're often used together.
What a crown is for
A crown is a custom-fitted cap that covers a tooth entirely, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance. It's typically recommended for a tooth with a large filling that's failing, a crack that threatens to split the tooth, or one weakened by a root canal, all situations where a filling alone won't hold up to normal biting forces. Crowns are made from a few different materials, most commonly porcelain, zirconia, or a porcelain-metal combination, chosen based on the location of the tooth and how much strength versus cosmetic blending matters most.
How a crown is placed
The tooth is first shaped to make room for the crown, an impression or digital scan is taken, and a temporary crown protects the tooth while the permanent one is custom-made. At a second visit, the permanent crown is checked for fit and bite before being cemented in place. With reasonable care, a well-made crown commonly lasts ten to fifteen years, often longer.
What a bridge does differently
A bridge replaces one or a small number of missing teeth in a row by anchoring a replacement tooth, or teeth, to crowns placed on the natural teeth or implants on either side of the gap. Unlike a removable denture, a bridge stays fixed in place and isn't taken out for cleaning. The tradeoff is that a traditional tooth-supported bridge requires reshaping the two anchor teeth even if they're otherwise healthy, which is one reason an implant sometimes gets recommended instead.
Living with a bridge or crown
Both are cared for like natural teeth, with one addition for bridges: flossing underneath the replacement tooth needs a floss threader or similar tool, since regular floss can't get under a fixed span on its own. Skipping that step is one of the more common reasons a bridge fails early, since decay or gum disease can develop at the anchor teeth without being obvious.