Crowns & Bridges
What are Dental Crowns and Tooth Bridges?
Two different types of dental restorations used to replace missing teeth or to protect and repair damaged teeth, crowns and bridges get cemented onto existing teeth or implants. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, only a dentist can remove a crown or bridge.
Dental crowns
Crowns, usually made of porcelain, ceramic, metal or a combination of materials, are applied to encase, or “cap” the tooth to restore its appearance, size, shape, alignment, and strength. They protect and strengthen a tooth that has been damaged by trauma or decay, or to support a tooth eaten away by a large filling and is at risk of breaking. A crown is also used on top of an implant to provide a functional tooth-like shape and structure. Dentists also use crowns to improve the appearance of teeth that are discoloured, misshapen, or poorly spaced. A common procedure, it usually takes a couple of visits to the dentist to complete.
Porcelain and ceramic crowns are matched to the colour of your natural tooth. A crown is recommended by your dentist to:
Replace a large filling when the tooth is badly degraded
Protect a weakened tooth from fracture
Restore a tooth that’s fractured
Cover a dental implant
Attach a bridge
Cover a poorly shaped or discoloured tooth
Cover a tooth after a root canal treatment
Bridges
Another dental restoration, bridges consist of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) anchored to adjacent teeth (abutments) with crowns. Dentists recommend bridges to replace a single tooth or a row of missing teeth. When there are gaps left by missing teeth, it can cause the surrounding teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces. The result is a bad bite and the imbalance created by missing teeth can also cause gum disease and disorders with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Bridges span the space left by missing teeth. Bridges get cemented to natural teeth or implants that neighbour the empty space. Pontics, or artificial teeth, are made of porcelain, ceramic, or other materials, and they are attached to the crowns, which are cemented onto the abutment teeth. Bridges are used to restore function and appearance to the teeth, and they can help to prevent the remaining teeth from shifting out of place.
Based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), the function, aesthetic considerations, and price, your dentist can help you decide which bridge material to use. To match the colour of your natural teeth, porcelain or ceramic are the best choice.
How are dental crowns and bridges created?
Before either of these restorations can be created, the tooth (or teeth), are made smaller so the crown or bridge fit properly over it. After reducing the size of the tooth/teeth, your dentist takes an impression to create an exact mould for the device. If you choose porcelain, the dentist will determine the correct shade to match the colour of your existing teeth.
While you wait for the crown or bridge as it’s made from the impression, you will have a temporary device placed to cover and protect the prepared area. When your permanent restoration is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary crown or bridge, before affixing the permanent with cement.
How long can I expect my crown or bridge to last?
While they can last a lifetime, crowns and bridges can come loose and even fall out. The best thing you can do to help ensure the longevity of your dental restoration is to practice good oral hygiene. If the teeth or bone holding the restoration in place becomes damaged by dental disease, it con lose support. Maintain healthy gums and teeth by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and floss daily. Additionally, be sure to visit your dentist and hygienist regularly for checkups and professional cleanings.
Beware chewing hard foods, ice, or other hard items to prevent causing damage to your new crown or bridge.