Crowns, Bridges & Veneers

A crown is used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment.

A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function.

Crowns are available in highly esthetic materials, such as Zirconia, that are very durable, and are virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth color.

Why might I need a crown?

To replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining

To cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment

To protect a weak tooth from fracturing

To restore a fractured tooth

To attach a bridge

To cover a dental implant

To cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth

A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite.

In order to make a bridge, the two adjacent teeth are prepared for crowns, and an artificial tooth is bonded where the space is located. A replacement tooth is attached to the crowns. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges.

Bridges are used less than in the past due to implant technology which allows the replacement of a missing tooth.

Veneers, as the name implies, are a covering or facing that is bonded to teeth for a variety of purposes, including closing a space between teeth, or for cosmetically re-contouring teeth when they are poorly positioned, or discolored.

Veneers can be made in a dental laboratory, and are generally fabricated of porcelain; they tend to have the best aesthetics. Veneers can also be fabricated directly in the mouth by the dentist , using composite resin.

This method can provide acceptable aesthetics, and at a lower cost.