Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges are created to restore a tooth's appearance, structure, or function. Crowns are intended to repair damage to individual teeth. They replace tooth structure lost by decay or injury, protect the part of the tooth that remains, and restore the tooth's shape and function. Bridges fill in a space in the jaw left by a missing tooth or teeth. They protect the shape of the mouth and restore function of the teeth and jaw.

You might have a damaged tooth for a variety of reasons. Weakened by a fracture or a large filling, the tooth will need repair. Your dentist may suggest a crown, an artificial replacement of the upper part of the tooth, to restore the function and look of the damaged one. Crowns can be made from several different kinds of material. This decision is based on location and aesthetics. The right one to repair your damaged tooth will be selected. The crown of a tooth is the portion that is covered by enamel. A restorative crown replaces this outer part to protect and strengthen the tooth. This protection becomes necessary when a tooth cracks, has its entire structure weakened by decay, or after a root canal. Crowns can also cover dental implants or adjacent teeth when fitting a bridge.

In another scenario, you might have one or more missing teeth due to decay or an accident. This loss changes the look of your smile, your bite, and puts stress on surrounding teeth to compensate for the lost tooth. One option your dentist may suggest for replacing the lost tooth is with a bridge. The missing tooth is replaced with an artificial tooth connected between two crowns, which are permanently cemented or bonded on the adjacent teeth.

Bridges prevent the remaining teeth from shifting and provide a more stable surface for chewing. If the gap is not filled, the other teeth shift, affecting the patient's bite, which sometimes produces pain in the jaw joint. As the teeth move and become crooked, they also become more difficult to keep clean. The risk of tooth decay and gum disease increases, also increasing the likelihood that additional teeth will be lost. A bridge is inserted to prevent this risk.