Crowns and bridges

When a crown is the right repair

• A large old filling has broken or the tooth around it has cracked
• A tooth has had root canal therapy and needs protection from fracture
• A tooth is badly worn, misshapen or discoloured and a veneer would not be strong enough
• A dental implant needs a tooth on top

What to expect

At the first visit the tooth is frozen, shaped to make room for the crown, and an impression is taken. You leave with a temporary crown. The permanent crown is made by a dental laboratory and fitted at the second visit, usually one to two weeks later, when we check the bite and the fit and cement it in place. Crowns can be made from porcelain, zirconia, or porcelain fused to metal; we will recommend the material that suits the tooth’s position and the forces it takes.

Bridges

A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by joining a false tooth to crowns on the neighbouring teeth. It is fixed, so it is cleaned in place like natural teeth, with special attention to the space under the false tooth. See replacing missing teeth for how bridges compare with implants and dentures.

Looking after a crown or bridge

Brush and floss as you would natural teeth; the tooth under a crown can still decay at the edge. Avoid chewing ice or very hard candy, and wear a night guard if you grind your teeth. With good care, crowns and bridges commonly last ten years or more.