Crowns and bridges

A crown is a made-to-measure cap that covers a tooth completely, holding together what's left of it and taking the chewing force so the tooth underneath doesn't crack apart. It's the right tool for a heavily broken-down tooth. And the wrong one for a tooth that a filling can still handle, which is where this page starts.

A bridge uses crowns to solve a different problem: replacing a missing tooth by anchoring a false one to the teeth beside the gap.

Crown or filling?

If a filling can do the job, you should get a filling: it's cheaper, faster, and keeps more of your own tooth. A filling is right when the damage is contained and enough sound tooth remains around it to hold everything together.

A crown earns its higher price when the tooth can no longer hold itself: when more of the tooth is filling than tooth, when a cusp has broken off or a crack keeps spreading, or, most often, after a root canal on a back tooth, which leaves the tooth brittle under chewing forces. In those cases a big new filling is a false economy; it fails, and each failure takes more tooth with it.

Which side of the line your tooth falls on is an examination question, not a sales question. If it's a filling, we'll say filling.

Honest lifespan framing, since everyone asks: a well-made crown on a well-cared-for tooth lasts years, often many, but nothing in a mouth is forever. The crown can't decay; the tooth at its margins still can, which is why brushing and check-ups matter as much after the crown as before it.

The process

Two stages, and a temporary crown in between.

At the first visit, the tooth is numbed and shaped to make room for the crown. The crown needs a certain thickness to be strong, so the tooth is reduced by that much all around. We take an impression of the shaped tooth and fit a temporary crown, which protects it while the permanent one is made. The temporary is deliberately modest: chew gently on it, avoid toffee-grade stickiness, and phone us if it comes off. Reattaching it is quick and matters.

A dental laboratory then builds your crown on a model of your tooth, matched to the shade of its neighbours. At the second visit we remove the temporary, try the new crown, adjust the bite until it feels like yours, and cement it. The gap between visits is typically one to two weeks.

Bridges

A bridge fills a gap without anything removable: the teeth on either side are crowned, and those crowns carry a false tooth between them, fixed in place. You clean it like your own teeth, with one addition: flossing under the false tooth, which we'll show you.

The honest trade-off is the anchor teeth. They must be shaped down to carry their crowns, and that's a real cost if they're perfect, untouched teeth. Less so if they already have large fillings, in which case a bridge puts them to good use. The main alternatives each have their own page: an implant replaces the tooth without touching the neighbours but costs more and takes months; a partial denture is the affordable, removable route. Bridge versus implant versus denture is a genuine three-way decision, and the right answer depends on the state of your neighbouring teeth, your bone and your budget. We'll lay out all three with prices before you choose.

Inlays and onlays

Between a filling and a crown sits a middle option many patients never hear about. An inlay or onlay is a solid piece, made in a laboratory to fit your tooth precisely, that replaces the damaged part while leaving the healthy part uncut. Where a filling would be too large to last and a crown would sacrifice sound tooth structure, an onlay covers the weak cusp and stops there. It's the conservative answer for the in-between tooth, and if yours is one, we'll offer it alongside the other options with its price.

What crowns cost

Crowns are priced per tooth and vary with material and situation; a bridge is priced by the number of units it spans. Rather than a misleading price list, you get the examination first, then a written quote for the recommended option and the alternatives (filling, inlay or onlay, crown, or bridge), so you can weigh them side by side. Many medical aids cover crowns partially and limit how many per year; we'll help you check your plan before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Does getting a crown hurt?

The tooth is numbed for the shaping visit, the same as for a filling: expect vibration and water, not pain. Some sensitivity around the temporary crown between visits is common and settles once the permanent crown is on.

What is a crown made of?

Porcelain-type ceramics matched to your tooth colour, metal alloys, or a combination. Strength and appearance pull in different directions, so back teeth and front teeth often get different answers. We'll recommend a material for your specific tooth and say why.

Can a crowned tooth still get problems?

Yes. The tooth under the crown can still decay at the gum margin, and the gum around it can still get gum disease. A crown protects the tooth; it doesn't retire your toothbrush.

My crown came off. Is that an emergency?

Usually not a painful one, but don't wait: keep the crown safe, don't glue it with anything from a hardware store, and book promptly. The exposed tooth is vulnerable and can shift. If there's pain, phone us via the emergency page route.

How do I clean under a bridge?

With floss threaded under the false tooth, or small interdental brushes. We'll show you at the fitting. It matters: food collecting under a bridge is the most common way a good bridge goes bad.