Crowns and bridges are both used to fix gaps in teeth, or to strengthen them. Both have a crucial role in the dentist’s toolbox, though which one is used depends on the patient’s own requirements. Before we get into the differences, it’s worth talking about why closing an unwanted gap matters in the first place – leaving a missing tooth untreated raises your risk of gum disease and related health issues, so it’s about more than just appearance.
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At a glance
- Crowns cap a single damaged, discoloured or misshapen tooth; bridges span a gap using the two neighbouring teeth.
- Both are fixed in place and need no more care than brushing as normal – no removing to clean.
- Made from durable materials, crowns and bridges typically last around 15 years or more with good care.
- A crown can also sit on top of a dental implant, or anchor one end of a bridge.
- Only a dentist can remove either – unlike dentures, which patients remove and clean themselves.
The Benefits of Crowns and Bridges
Aesthetics – they fill the gap caused by missing, fractured or misshapen teeth. It’s easy to assume this is purely about self-esteem, but as above, there’s a genuine oral health reason to close the gap too.
Easy to maintain – crowns and bridges can both be cared for in the same way as regular teeth: just brush twice a day. They’re hassle-free, and never need removing to be cleaned.
Long lasting – made from durable materials, your crowns or bridges can last around 15 years, and even longer in some cases, provided you care for them well and keep up with regular check-ups.
Crowns and bridges are both forms of dental pontic designed to fill a gap and keep the surrounding teeth in position, stopping them from drifting inward over time.
What Is A Crown And When Is It Used?
A crown is used to cover a tooth that’s greatly chipped or missing a filling. It works nicely in most cases as a cap, generally used to improve the appearance of a tooth or to help with alignment. Sometimes crowns are used on top of a dental implant, though this involves a more expensive, surgical procedure, since a screw needs implanting into the jaw for the crown to attach to.
For most people, a crown would be recommended to:
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a discoloured tooth
- Cover a misshapen tooth
- Cover a tooth that’s had root canal treatment
- Replace a large filling, when there’s too little tooth left to hold one
- Protect a weaker tooth that’s close to fracturing
- Restore a tooth that’s already fractured
Dental crowns are made from either porcelain or ceramic material to match the colour of your natural teeth. For crowns fitted on the back teeth, stronger alloys (gold, metal, acrylic) are generally used, since they’re better suited to the impact back teeth take day to day; these can still be capped with porcelain for a more natural look, though that adds a slightly higher risk of breaking if used on back teeth.
What Is A Bridge And When Is It Used?
A bridge essentially works as a connector, bridging from the surrounding teeth over the gap while holding the pontic in place. They’re generally used when a whole tooth is missing, and can even solve a larger gap caused by two missing teeth. The procedure involves filing down the surrounding teeth, which act as pillars, and preparing them for the bridge to be fitted onto.
Disadvantages To Consider
Alongside the many reasons you’d choose a crown or bridge over leaving a gap, there are a few minor disadvantages worth being prepared for and keeping an eye on during aftercare.
Dental Crown Disadvantages
Discomfort can occur soon after the procedure if the fitting isn’t yet quite perfect – this is easily fixed by shaving it down to fit better. There may also be some extra stress on gums and nerves if the pontic sits slightly higher than the other teeth, especially when biting down.
Chipping can also be an issue if you’re generally forceful with your teeth when eating – especially hard sweets or meat with bones. In most cases the crown won’t need replacing unless the chip is substantial; filing down the sharp edge is usually the simplest repair. Porcelain can very rarely cause allergic reactions, in which case other materials are available. And in other rare cases the cement holding the crown in place can wash away over time, allowing bacteria to gather underneath – another good reason to keep up with regular check-ups, so it’s caught early.
Dental Bridge Disadvantages
The teeth used to anchor the bridge need to be filed down and prepared, which does mean losing some healthy enamel in the process – though it’s still the only way to do it, and still reduces the risks associated with leaving a gap, such as gum disease. Bridges are also much cheaper than implants, but don’t last quite as long – though with good aftercare they can still last over 15 years, and replacing one isn’t a surgical procedure the way replacing an implant is.
We hope this has given you a better understanding of how crowns and bridges differ, and why you might choose one over the other. Get in touch today to learn more, or to arrange a consultation in our family-orientated practice in Solihull.
From porcelain to metal – see the full range of dental crowns we offer and how the process works.
Dental crowns
