Crowns and Bridges are fixed (you cannot remove them) prosthetic devices that are cemented onto existing teeth or implants by a dentist.
Crowns
Crowns are most commonly used to cover or “cap” a damaged or cracked tooth or to cover an implant.
Crowns may be used to:
- Help prevent future tooth fractures by covering a weak tooth with a large filling
- Fix a tooth that has already fractured
- Cover a dental implant
- Cosmetically cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
- Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
Bridges
Bridges are commonly used to cover a space if you’re missing one or more teeth. They are cemented to natural teeth or implants surrounding the space where the tooth once stood. A bridge is one option for filling the space created by a missing tooth, enhancing both function and cosmetics.
Benefits of Crowns and Bridges
In addition to strengthening a damaged tooth, bridges and crowns can improve a tooth’s appearance, shape, alignment, and dental occlusion (bite). The materials may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloys, or all ceramic material that matches your natural tooth color.
