Crowns & Bridges

Crowns

A crown is a type of restoration that is meant to “cap” or completely cover a tooth.  There are several reasons for needing a crown:  there is not enough remaining tooth structure to retain a conventional filling, to improve the esthetic appearance of a tooth, to restore a dental implant, or to prevent the fracture of a tooth that has been root canal treated.  A crown is usually completed in two appointments.  The traditional materials used for crowns are gold, porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain.  

Bridges

A bridge, or a fixed partial denture, is a type of restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth.  It consists of one or more artificial teeth called “pontics” which are fused to two crowns literally “bridging the gap” between two teeth.  Bridges can be made with gold, porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain.  The success of a bridge is dependant on a strong foundation, so it is essential that you take excellent care of the teeth that hold a bridge in place.