Dental crowns cover over and encase the tooth on which they are cemented. We may recommend a crown to:

• Restore a tooth where there is not enough tooth structure left to place an adequate filling
• Restore a fractured tooth or to protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Attach a bridge
• Restore a dental implant
• Improve the shade or anatomy of a tooth
• Protect a tooth that has had root canal treatment

The type of crown your dentist recommends will depend on the tooth involved and sometimes on your preference.

Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth.  Bridges are cemented to the teeth (known as abutments) on either side of the missing teeth.  A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments.