Dental Crowns and Bridges - Overview
Dental crowns and bridges are fixed restorations used to restore damaged teeth, improve appearance, and replace missing teeth. A crown covers an individual tooth or implant, while a bridge uses artificial teeth to fill a gap.
Crowns may be recommended for teeth with large fillings, fractures, severe decay, extensive wear, discoloration, or previous root canal treatment. They may also be used to improve tooth shape or support a dental implant.
Traditional bridges are supported by crowns placed on neighboring teeth. Implant-supported bridges use dental implants and may avoid reducing healthy adjacent teeth.
Common materials include zirconia, porcelain, lithium disilicate, metal alloys, and porcelain fused to metal. Material selection depends on tooth position, bite pressure, aesthetic expectations, remaining tooth structure, and budget.
Treatment usually involves examination, X-rays, tooth preparation, digital scanning or impressions, a temporary restoration, and final placement. Some clinics use same-day computer-aided manufacturing, although not every case is suitable for immediate production.
The supporting teeth and gums must be healthy before permanent crowns or bridges are placed.