When you have a broken or missing tooth, it doesn’t just affect the way you smile.
You’ll probably notice it when you try to eat. Food can get stuck where a tooth used to be. Maybe a tooth is cracked from having a big filling. Or if the tooth is completely gone, your other teeth can start to drift.
Crowns and bridges are two options to repair and replace your teeth.
Here at Dabuleanu Dental, we offer dental crowns and bridges. Dental implants and other options are also available through our prosthodontic services for patients who need their teeth repaired or replaced.
The treatment that will work best for you depends on the condition of the tooth, the surrounding teeth and how your teeth come together when you bite.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A crown is placed over your natural tooth.
It can also be referred to as a cap.
Once the tooth is prepared, the crown will cover it and restore its shape and appearance.
If your tooth is badly decayed, has a large filling, is cracked, worn down or has had a root canal, a crown may be recommended. Crowns can also be used to improve the appearance of severely stained or misshapen teeth.
When the crown is placed, it becomes the visible portion of the restored tooth.
Why Would I Need a Dental Crown?
There are many reasons a patient may need a crown.
Your Tooth Has a Large Filling
If you have a tooth with a large filling, there may not be much natural tooth structure left.
Over time, the remaining walls of the tooth can weaken and become more susceptible to cracking.
Placing a crown may help protect and strengthen the remaining tooth.
Your Tooth Is Cracked
A dental crown may be used to restore a cracked tooth.
How the tooth is treated depends on how far the crack extends and whether the pulp inside the tooth has been affected.
You Had a Root Canal
Sometimes a crown is recommended after root canal treatment, especially for back teeth that are exposed to heavier chewing forces.
Your dentist will determine what type of final restoration is appropriate for your tooth.
Your Tooth Is Worn Down
If you grind your teeth or have significant tooth wear, crowns may sometimes be used to rebuild damaged teeth.
Your Smile Can Look Better With a Crown
Sometimes a tooth is badly worn, stained or misshapen and another more conservative treatment may not be suitable.
A crown can be used to restore the appearance of that tooth while also helping it function properly.
Benefits of Having a Dental Crown
There are many potential benefits to having a dental crown.
One of the biggest is that you may be able to keep a natural tooth that can still be restored.
Crowns can:
- Help protect a weakened tooth
- Restore a broken tooth
- Rebuild worn tooth structure
- Help restore chewing function
- Cover a tooth with a large filling
- Protect some teeth following root canal treatment
- Improve the appearance of a damaged tooth
We want your new crown to not only look natural but also feel comfortable when you chew.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge can replace one missing tooth or several missing teeth.
There are different types of bridges.
A traditional dental bridge usually consists of an artificial tooth that is connected to crowns on the teeth beside the empty space.
Those supporting teeth are prepared for crowns, and the finished bridge is attached to them.
A fixed bridge stays in your mouth and is not something you remove each day like a removable partial denture.
Benefits of a Dental Bridge
Having a missing tooth can affect the way you chew. Your other teeth may also begin moving toward the empty space over time.
A bridge fills that space.
Depending on the situation, a dental bridge may:
- Replace a missing tooth
- Help you chew more comfortably
- Improve the appearance of your smile
- Help maintain the position of surrounding teeth
- Improve the way your bite functions
- Give you a fixed option instead of a removable partial denture
Replacing a missing tooth can help reduce unwanted movement of neighbouring teeth and changes in your bite.
How Does a Dental Bridge Work?
A traditional dental bridge uses natural teeth for support.
The teeth beside the gap are called abutment teeth. They are prepared for crowns, and the replacement tooth is connected between them.
The completed bridge is then fitted and attached to those supporting teeth.
Do My Teeth Have to Be Prepared for a Bridge?
If you are receiving a traditional bridge, usually yes.
Some natural tooth structure has to be removed so the crowns can fit over the teeth supporting the bridge.
This is one reason a dental implant may also be considered.
If the teeth beside the missing space are healthy, an implant may allow the missing tooth to be replaced without preparing those neighbouring teeth for crowns.
However, if those teeth already need crowns because of large fillings or damage, a bridge may make more sense.
Every case is different.
Bridge or Implant: Which Is Better?
Many patients ask us this question.
It depends on your situation.
A dental implant replaces the missing tooth root and can support a crown without relying on the teeth beside it.
A traditional bridge uses neighbouring teeth to support the replacement tooth.
Your dentist or prosthodontist may consider:
- Condition of the neighbouring teeth
- Amount of available bone
- Gum health
- Location of the missing tooth
- Your bite
- Medical history
- Treatment time
- Cost
- Overall restorative needs
All of these factors can play a role in deciding which option makes more sense for you.
Can You Put a Bridge on Dental Implants?
Yes.
Dental implants can be used to support certain types of bridges when several teeth are missing.
Here at Dabuleanu Dental, we offer implant-supported bridgework and other implant restorations for appropriate patients who have lost multiple teeth.
How Is a Dental Crown Placed?
Every crown case is a little different depending on the tooth and the restoration being made.
The tooth is prepared to make room for the crown.
An impression or digital scan is then taken so the crown can be made to fit your tooth and bite.
A temporary restoration may be used while the final crown is being made, depending on the situation.
Once the final crown is ready, we check the fit, bite and appearance before attaching it to the tooth.
Dabuleanu Dental also uses digital scanning technology for crowns and bridges.
How Is a Dental Bridge Placed?
The process is similar in some ways to receiving a crown.
The supporting teeth are prepared and an impression or digital scan is taken.
A temporary bridge may be used while the final restoration is being made.
When the permanent bridge is ready, it is checked for fit, appearance and bite before it is attached to the supporting teeth.
What Are Crowns and Bridges Made From?
There are several materials that may be used.
Crowns can be made from:
- Ceramic or porcelain
- Metal
- Porcelain fused to metal
- Other restorative materials
Your dentist will consider where the tooth is located, how much chewing pressure it receives, how you want it to look and how much natural tooth structure remains.
Bridges can also be made from different restorative materials.
Your dentist or prosthodontist can explain which material may be best for your situation.
Will My Crown Look Natural?
That is the goal.
Your crown is designed to blend in with the rest of your smile.
Colour, size, shape and position can all be considered when the restoration is made.
This can be especially important when restoring a front tooth.
Prosthodontic treatment focuses on repairing and replacing teeth so they function properly and look as natural as possible.
Will a Bridge Feel Natural?
A fixed bridge remains in your mouth, so over time it should become a normal part of your bite and smile.
The goal is for you to be able to chew comfortably with it.
You will still need to clean underneath the replacement tooth and around the crowns supporting the bridge.
The artificial tooth itself cannot get a cavity, but the natural teeth holding the bridge can.
How Do You Clean a Tooth With a Crown?
Just like your other teeth, you need to brush and clean around a crowned tooth regularly.
The crown itself cannot develop a cavity, but the natural tooth underneath it still can.
Plaque can collect around the edge where the crown meets the tooth.
Continue brushing, cleaning between your teeth and visiting your dentist for regular examinations and professional cleanings.
How Do You Clean Under a Dental Bridge?
Because the teeth in a bridge are connected, regular floss may not pass directly between them.
You can use special floss, floss threaders, interdental brushes or other cleaning aids recommended by your dental team.
The important thing is to remove plaque and food from underneath the replacement tooth and around the supporting teeth.
Crowns and bridges need ongoing care just like your natural teeth.
How Long Will My Crown or Bridge Last?
There is no exact amount of time that every crown or bridge will last.
With good care, restorations can often last many years.
Several factors can affect their lifespan, including:
- Oral hygiene
- Gum health
- Condition of the supporting teeth
- Grinding or clenching
- Your bite
- What you eat
- Regular dental care
- The material used
Some crowns may last 10 years or longer with proper care, although every patient and restoration is different.
You should continue brushing, cleaning between your teeth and attending regular dental visits so the restoration and supporting teeth can be monitored.
Can You Get a Cavity Under a Crown?
Yes.
The crown itself cannot develop tooth decay, but the natural tooth underneath it can.
If plaque builds up around the edge of the crown, decay may develop in the remaining tooth structure.
That is why brushing and cleaning between the teeth still matter after a crown is placed.
Can You Get a Cavity Around a Bridge?
The artificial replacement tooth itself cannot develop a cavity.
The natural teeth supporting the bridge can.
If one of the abutment teeth develops decay, it may affect the bridge as well.
Keeping the supporting teeth healthy is an important part of maintaining the restoration.
What if My Crown or Bridge Falls Out?
Call your dentist.
Do not try to permanently glue it back in place with household adhesive.
There are several reasons a crown or bridge may loosen, and your dentist will need to determine what happened.
Even if the tooth does not hurt, the restoration should still be checked.
If the crown or bridge comes completely out, keep it and bring it with you to the appointment.
Can All Broken Teeth Be Fixed With a Crown?
No.
Sometimes additional treatment is needed before a tooth can support a crown.
If a tooth is broken close to or below the gumline, crown lengthening may sometimes be considered to expose more natural tooth structure for restoration.
Dabuleanu Dental provides crown lengthening for appropriate restorative cases.
In other situations, the tooth may be too damaged to save.
Your dentist will examine the tooth and explain what treatment options are available.
How Can a Prosthodontist Help With Crowns and Bridges?
A prosthodontist specializes in restoring and replacing teeth.
Their treatment can include:
- Dental crowns
- Dental bridges
- Dental implants
- Dentures
- Veneers
- Full-mouth rehabilitation
Here at Dabuleanu Dental, we provide prosthodontic services for patients who need damaged teeth restored or missing teeth replaced.
Some patients may require more than one type of restoration, so proper treatment planning becomes especially important in more complex cases.
Should I Get a Crown or Bridge?
That depends on your situation.
If you have a damaged tooth that can still be saved, a crown may be one way to restore and protect it.
If you are missing a tooth, a bridge may be one option for replacing it.
If the neighbouring teeth are healthy, a dental implant may also be worth considering because it does not require those teeth to be prepared simply to support the replacement tooth.
Every patient is different.
Your dentist or prosthodontist can help you determine which option makes the most sense for your teeth and long-term needs.
Dental Crowns and Bridges in North York
There are many options when it comes to repairing and replacing teeth.
Whether you have a broken tooth, a heavily restored tooth or are missing teeth altogether, the right treatment depends on your individual situation.
Dabuleanu Dental provides crowns, bridges, dental implants and other prosthodontic treatments in North York.
If you have questions about crowns or bridges, contact Dabuleanu Dental to schedule an assessment.
Dabuleanu Dental
2 Finch Ave W
North York, ON M2N 6L1
416-222-5055
Crowns and Bridges FAQ
What Is the Difference Between a Crown and a Bridge?
A crown covers and restores an individual tooth.
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth and is supported by natural teeth or dental implants.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
The tooth is normally numbed while it is being prepared for the crown.
Some temporary sensitivity or tenderness may occur afterward depending on the condition of the tooth.
Do You Need a Crown After a Root Canal?
It depends on the tooth.
Back teeth often need additional protection following root canal treatment because of the chewing forces placed on them.
Your dentist will determine what type of final restoration is appropriate.
Is a Bridge Permanent?
A fixed dental bridge is attached in place and is not removed by the patient each day.
Is a Bridge Better Than an Implant?
It depends.
There are advantages and limitations to both options.
The condition of your neighbouring teeth, gums, bone and overall treatment plan all need to be considered.
How Do You Clean Under a Bridge?
Special floss, floss threaders, interdental brushes or another cleaning aid can be used to clean underneath the replacement tooth and around the supporting teeth.
How Long Do Crowns Last?
There is no set lifespan.
With good oral hygiene and regular dental care, crowns can often last many years. Some may last 10 years or longer, although individual results vary.
What if My Crown or Bridge Falls Out?
Save it and bring it to your dentist.
Do not try to permanently glue it back in place yourself.