Crowns and bridges are fixed dental restorations that repair damaged teeth or replace missing ones. A dental crown is a custom-made cap that covers and protects a weakened tooth. A dental bridge fills a gap left by one or more missing teeth, using neighbouring teeth or dental implants for support.
Both are cemented or fixed in place, so you do not take them out like dentures. Tooth crowns and bridges can help with restoring chewing function, protecting teeth from further damage and improving the look of your smile.
People often need restorative treatment after extensive decay, a cracked or broken tooth, a large old filling, root canal treatment or tooth loss. Not everyone is suitable for a crown or bridge, and no restoration lasts forever. At Tomken Dental in Mississauga, we check your teeth, gums and bite with an exam and X-rays before recommending the right option for you.
What Are Dental Crowns and When Are They Needed?
A dental crown is a custom-made restoration that fits over a prepared tooth, or attaches to a dental implant, to restore its shape, strength and appearance. The American Dental Association explains that dentists use crowns to strengthen, protect and restore teeth.
When a crown may be recommended
- Extensive decay: when too much tooth has been lost for a filling to hold.
- Fractured teeth: to hold a cracked tooth together or rebuild a broken one.
- Weakened teeth: to protect a tooth with a large filling from breaking.
- After root canal treatment: back teeth in particular can become more brittle. Our article explains whether you need a crown after a root canal.
- Appearance: to improve the look of a badly shaped or discoloured tooth.
- On a dental implant: a crown forms the visible tooth on top of an implant.
Crown materials
- Ceramic or porcelain: natural-looking and often used for front teeth.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: a metal base for strength with a tooth-coloured outer layer.
- Zirconia: a strong ceramic that suits many back teeth.
- Metal alloys: very durable and need less tooth reduction, but are not tooth-coloured.
The right material comes down to where the tooth is, how strongly you bite, your appearance preferences and your clinical needs. Your dentist will advise on the best material for your situation at your consultation.
Treatment considerations
A crown needs a solid foundation. Your dentist must check that enough healthy tooth structure remains to support it. If too little is left, the tooth may need a build-up first, or another option may be more suitable.
How Do Dental Bridges Replace Missing Teeth?
A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with artificial teeth (called pontics) held in place by the teeth or implants on either side of the gap. It is a common form of fixed tooth replacement.
Types of dental bridges
- Traditional bridge: crowns are placed on the natural teeth on each side of the gap, holding the replacement tooth between them. This is the most common type.
- Cantilever bridge: the replacement tooth is supported on one side only. It may be used where there is a healthy tooth on just one side of the gap.
- Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge: the replacement tooth is held by thin wings bonded to the back of the neighbouring teeth. It needs little or no reshaping of those teeth and is often used for front teeth.
- Implant-supported bridge: the bridge is attached to dental implants instead of natural teeth. It may suit longer gaps or areas without strong neighbouring teeth. The ADA notes that implant-supported bridges attach artificial teeth directly to the jaw.
Your dentist will explain which types are suitable, and available, for your situation.
Benefits
A bridge can help you chew more comfortably, fill a visible gap, support speech and stop neighbouring teeth drifting into the space.
Limitations
Traditional bridges usually involve reshaping healthy neighbouring teeth. Cleaning under the replacement tooth also takes extra effort. If a supporting tooth develops decay or gum problems, the whole bridge can be affected.
The health of the supporting teeth, gum health, bone support, and the number and position of missing teeth all affect suitability. A bridge is not always better than an implant or a removable denture. Each option has trade-offs.
What Is the Difference Between Dental Crowns and Bridges?
A crown restores a single existing tooth. A bridge replaces missing teeth by spanning a gap. Bridges often use crowns on the supporting teeth.
| Feature | Dental Crowns | Dental Bridges |
| Primary purpose | Restore or protect an existing tooth | Replace one or more missing teeth |
| Placement | Covers a prepared tooth or attaches to an implant | Spans a gap and is supported by teeth or implants |
| Common uses | Damaged, weakened or heavily restored teeth | Missing teeth |
| Support | Existing tooth or implant | Neighbouring teeth or implants |
| Maintenance | Brushing, flossing and regular dental visits | Brushing, cleaning under the bridge and regular dental visits |
Crowns and bridges compared with other options
| Option | How it works | Key consideration |
| Crown | Caps a damaged tooth | Needs enough healthy tooth to support it |
| Bridge | Fixes replacement teeth to neighbouring teeth or implants | Traditional bridges involve reshaping neighbouring teeth |
| Dental implant | Replaces a tooth root with a post in the jawbone | Needs enough bone and suitable general health |
| Removable denture | Replaces several or all teeth with a removable appliance | Needs daily removal for cleaning and periodic adjustment |
The right recommendation rests on your oral health, the teeth you have left, your bite and your goals. Learn more about Dental Implants in Mississauga and Dentures in Mississauga if you are comparing replacement options.
What to Expect During Crown and Bridge Treatment
Crown and bridge treatment usually involves an assessment, preparing the tooth or teeth, taking impressions or scans, wearing a temporary restoration and then fitting the final one.
- Consultation and assessment: Your dentist examines your teeth and gums and takes X-rays to check the roots and bone. You will discuss options and costs.
- Tooth preparation: Under local anesthetic, the tooth (or the supporting teeth for a bridge) is reshaped to make room for the restoration.
- Impressions or digital scans: An impression or digital scan records the shape of your teeth and bite.
- Temporary restoration: A temporary crown or bridge may protect the teeth while the final one is made.
- Fabrication: A dental laboratory or in-office milling system makes the final restoration.
- Fitting: Your dentist checks the fit, colour and bite, then cements or bonds it in place.
- Adjustments: Small changes may be made so your bite feels natural.
Treatment often takes two or more appointments. Some practices can make certain crowns in a single visit using in-office milling technology. Ask whether this suits your case.
After treatment
Some temporary sensitivity to hot or cold, or tenderness in the gum, is common. Your new restoration may feel different for a few days. Contact your dentist if your bite feels high or uncomfortable, if sensitivity does not settle, or if the crown or bridge feels loose.
How to Care for Your Dental Crowns and Bridges
Look after crowns and bridges the same way you look after natural teeth: brush twice a day, clean between teeth daily and see your dentist regularly. The tooth underneath a crown can still decay, and gum disease can still affect the teeth that support a bridge.
Daily care
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush.
- Floss or use interdental brushes around crowns every day.
- Clean under bridges using a floss threader, super floss or small interdental brush.
- Pay attention to the gumline, where plaque tends to build up.
Habits to avoid
- Chewing ice, hard candy or pen caps.
- Using your teeth to open packages.
- Grinding or clenching. Ask your dentist about a night guard if you grind.
Regular dental visits
Routine check-ups and a professional Dental Cleaning in Mississauga let your dentist check the edges of your restorations, your gums and your bite.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
Crowns and bridges can last many years. The material, your oral hygiene, how strongly you bite, habits such as grinding, and the health of the teeth and gums around them all play a part. There is no guaranteed lifespan. See your dentist if you notice persistent discomfort, looseness, chips or a change in your bite.
Crowns & Bridges at a Mississauga Dental Practice
A dentist can assess your teeth, explain which restoration suits you and give you a clear cost estimate before treatment.
If you are looking for a Dentist in Mississauga,Tomken Dental offers Crowns & Bridges in Mississauga. Treatment starts with an exam and X-rays to check the supporting bone and roots, followed by a detailed cost estimate. Where it suits your case, we can also discuss same-day crowns made with in-office milling technology, confirmed at your consultation. If a tooth needs treatment before it can be crowned, we also offer Root Canal Therapy.
For a guide to pricing factors, see our articles on dental bridge costs in Mississauga and dental crown costs in Ontario. Call us to confirm treatment suitability, coverage and appointment availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dental crowns and bridges last?
Dental crowns and bridges can last many years, but there is no fixed lifespan. The materials used, your oral hygiene, bite forces and overall dental health all affect how long they last. Regular dental visits and good daily care help them last longer.
Are dental crowns and bridges painful to get?
Getting a crown or bridge is not usually painful, because local anesthetic numbs the area while the teeth are prepared. Some people have temporary sensitivity or gum soreness afterward. Talk to your dentist about pain relief and any concerns.
What is the difference between a crown and a bridge?
A crown covers and restores an existing tooth. A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth using neighbouring teeth or implants for support. Your dentist will recommend the right option based on your teeth and gums.
Can a dental bridge replace multiple missing teeth?
Yes, some bridges can replace several missing teeth in a row. Where the gap is and how much support is available decide whether it is possible. Your dentist must assess the supporting teeth, any implants and your overall oral health.
How do you maintain dental crowns and bridges?
Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth and under bridges daily, attend regular check-ups and avoid habits such as chewing ice or grinding. See your dentist if a crown or bridge feels loose, damaged or uncomfortable.
Choosing the Right Restoration for Your Smile
Crowns and bridges are well-established ways to protect damaged teeth and replace missing ones, helping you chew, speak and smile with more confidence. The best choice reflects your teeth, gums, bone and goals, so a personal assessment comes first.
Living with a damaged, weakened or missing tooth? Book a consultation so we can check your oral health and talk you through tooth crowns and bridges and other suitable options. Contact us to discuss treatment suitability and appointment availability.
This article is general information, not dental advice for your situation. Speak with a dentist about the right treatment for your teeth.