Crowns and bridges are fixed dental restorations made to fit your mouth. They can protect a weakened tooth, improve its appearance, or replace a missing tooth so that you can chew and smile with confidence.
What is a crown?
A crown, sometimes called a cap, fits over a tooth to restore its shape, strength and appearance. Crowns are commonly used for teeth with large fillings, cracks or heavy wear, for teeth that have had root canal treatment, and for teeth that are badly discoloured or misshapen.
What is a bridge?
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth to the crowns on neighbouring teeth, or to implants, on either side of the gap.
Materials
Crowns and bridges can be made from different materials, such as metal, porcelain fused to metal, ceramic or zirconia. The best choice depends on where the tooth is in your mouth, how you bite, how visible it is and your preferences. Your dentist will explain the options that suit your case.
What to expect
- Examination and X-rays to check the tooth and its supporting structures.
- Preparing the tooth. Under local anaesthesia the tooth is shaped to make room for the crown.
- Impression or scan. A precise record of your teeth is taken for the dental laboratory.
- Temporary restoration. A temporary crown or bridge protects the tooth while the final one is made.
- Fitting. The final restoration is checked for fit, bite and appearance before it is cemented in place.
Aftercare
Clean crowns and bridges as you would natural teeth. For a bridge, special brushes or floss threaders are used to clean underneath. Avoid biting very hard objects, keep up regular check-ups, and let your dentist know if anything feels uneven or sensitive.
Good to know
Shaping a tooth for a crown cannot be undone. Crowns and bridges can last for many years with good care, but they are not permanent and may eventually need repair or replacement. For a missing tooth, an implant or a denture may also be options, and your dentist can help you compare them.
Frequently Asked Questions
With good oral hygiene and regular check-ups they can last many years, but there is no fixed lifespan. It depends on the material, your bite, your habits and how well the supporting teeth and gums are cared for.
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic during preparation, so you should not feel pain. Some sensitivity afterwards is common and usually settles. Your dentist will advise you if it persists.
A filling repairs a small to moderate area of damage within a tooth. A crown covers the whole visible part of the tooth and is used when a tooth is too weak or damaged for a filling to protect it.
Both replace missing teeth but work differently. A bridge uses the neighbouring teeth for support, while an implant is placed in the bone. Your dentist will explain which is more suitable for your situation.
Brush it as normal and use interdental brushes or floss threaders to clean beneath the false tooth, where food and plaque can collect. Your dentist can show you the best method.
This page is general educational information and is not a substitute for a personal dental examination. Suitability, timelines and outcomes vary from person to person and are confirmed at your consultation with Dr. Shivani Gupta, BDS.