Our Services / Crowns and Bridges

What are crowns and bridges?

Dental crowns and bridges are restorative dentistry treatments for damaged or missing teeth. While a bridge’s main responsibility is to replace one or more missing teeth, a crown can function on its own. Crowns and bridges can also work together to restore your teeth to their natural shape and size.

What is the difference between crowns and bridges?

A dental crown is a custom-made cap that is shaped like a tooth. The crown fits over your damaged or decayed tooth to restore its shape, size, and color. Crowns also protect teeth from additional damage while sealing out bacteria to prevent decay. 

While they often operate on their own, crowns can attach to restorations, such as dental implants or bridges, to replace missing teeth. 

A bridge is a dental device that consists of dental crowns and artificial teeth. There are several types, but the most popular is a traditional bridge. A traditional bridge contains two crowns with an artificial tooth in the middle to replace a missing tooth. The crowns fit over your surrounding teeth, called abutments, to anchor the appliance in place.

What can crowns and bridges treat?

Dental crowns, available in ceramic and stain-resistant porcelain materials at Thrive Dental, can correct many different dental concerns, including:

• Chipped teeth
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Misshapen teeth
• Worn teeth
• Teeth with large fillings
• Teeth treated with root canal therapy
• Severely decayed teeth

When connected to a dental bridge, a crown can also replace missing teeth.

What can I expect from the crowns and bridges process?

Whether you need single crowns, multiple crowns, or a dental bridge, you can expect your treatment to take at least two visits to Thrive Dental. 

Your dentist starts by performing a dental exam and taking X-rays to design your treatment plan. During this visit, the team also prepares your teeth for crowns by reshaping them. Finally, they take impressions of your teeth to create your custom-made restorations.

The fabrication process takes about two to three weeks, during which time you’ll wear temporary crowns and bridges. When you return for your second visit, your dentist replaces the temporary restorations with your permanent crowns and bridges. The team makes any necessary adjustments before cementing the device in place.

To learn more about crowns and bridges, call Thrive Dental or book an appointment online today.