Dental Crowns & Bridges

What is a dental bridge? A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. It is called a “bridge” because it covers a gap. Bridges are false teeth anchored in place by neighbouring teeth. The bridge consists of two crowns on the anchoring teeth along with the false tooth in the centre.

A dental crown or cap is a cover that fits over a tooth that has been broken, misshaped, badly stained or damaged by decay. It is prepared by your dentist, and usually requires more than one visit to complete.

A crown/ bridge can be made of acrylic, metal, porcelain, or porcelain bonded to metal. All-porcelain crowns look more like your natural teeth. They are usually used for front teeth. Porcelain bonded to metal is stronger and better for crowns in the back of the mouth. Sometimes all-metal crowns are used for back teeth because of the metal’s strength.

To prepare your tooth for a crown/ bridge, the tooth is first frozen. It’s then filed down so the cap can fit over it. The dentist makes an impression of the teeth and gums and puts a temporary cap or bridge over the tooth until the permanent crown is ready. On your next visit, the dentist will remove the temporary cap and cement the permanent crown/ bridge onto the tooth. The crown or bridge will closely match the colour and shape of your natural teeth.