Restore Your Smile
Our dentists recommend bridges and crowns to help replace your missing teeth and restore your smile by putting a stop to further damage to the teeth and oral structures.
Crowns are hollow, artificial teeth that fit over a natural tooth or dental implant that can be used to repair damaged teeth, restoring their structure, appearance, and function. While crowns are used to repair damaged teeth, a bridge's function is to replace one or more missing teeth in a row.
Bridges are held in place by your natural teeth on either side of the gap in your smile, or by dental implants. Bridges are permanent and cannot be removed. If your teeth are damaged by cracks or decay, or if you are missing teeth, a dental crown or bridge may be an ideal option for you.
How Dental Crowns & Bridges Work
Dental crowns help to strengthen and protect the structures of both the treated tooth and the surrounding teeth. A crown can be used to hold a cracked tooth together to help prevent further damage from occurring.
A dental bridge is a tooth replacement option designed to 'bridge' a gap left by missing teeth in the jaw. Dental bridges can help to restore your ability to chew or speak properly. Bridges are custom-made to match the colour and shape of your natural teeth and create a natural-looking appearance.
At our North Vancouver dental clinic, you can expect a minimum of two visits when receiving dental crowns or bridges. We use the first visit to make impressions of your teeth and then send those impressions to a dental laboratory. Once the crown or bridge is ready, you can return to have it fitted and ensure it fits properly.
Crowns & Bridges FAQs
Read our most frequently asked questions about crowns & bridges.
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What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns are used when a tooth has a very large filling that exceeds the natural tooth structure, your tooth had root canal therapy or for cosmetic reasons.
Dental crowns have many applications. The first is to be installed over a damaged tooth to cap the existing structure, which restores the damaged tooth so it can be used normally. Crowns can also be attached to dental implants to replace missing teeth; these implants will be surgically inserted into the jawbone and serve as the root for the tooth. This procedure keeps the crown steady and secure.
Additionally, dental crowns may also be used to provide extra support for dental bridges. They do not require any special treatment and can be brushed and flossed as normal.
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What is a porcelain dental crown?
A porcelain dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is used to help restore teeth that cannot be fixed using the traditional filling.
They are generally suggested for patients who have had severely decayed or damaged teeth. Porcelain dental crowns match the colour of teeth to give a natural appearance. There are many other types of crowns such as gold or silver, but porcelain crowns are the most popular because they give the most natural look.
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How are porcelain crowns placed?
When you and your dentist decide that getting a crown is the right option for you, the dentist will shape the tooth in a way that enables them to place a crown.
Depending on the damage to the tooth and how much tooth structure is present, the dentist will either shape the tooth or build up the tooth in order to support the crown.
Several impressions will be taken so that a dental laboratory can custom-make a cap for your tooth. While you wait for the dental laboratory to create your crown, your dentist will create a temporary crown for you that will be replaced when your final crown is ready.
Once your crown is ready, and has been received by your dentist, an appointment will be scheduled to have the crown fitted. First, your dentist will place the crown over your tooth to ensure that the fit and bite are correct. Provided that the custom-made porcelain crown fits properly, it will then be cemented in place to restore your tooth's appearance and structure.
With care, porcelain dental crowns can be very durable and have the ability to last a long time. Your dentist will give you special instructions on how you can keep your crown clean with brushing and flossing so that you can help your crown last for many years.
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How do temporary dental crowns work?
If you are scheduled to have a dental crown or bridge placed, you will likely need to have a temporary crown placed over your tooth to protect it while your permanent dental restoration is being created in a dental lab.
A temporary crown is typically made of acrylic plastic resin or metal and is lightly cemented in place over your tooth.
These crowns tend to be more fragile than a permanent crown, and not as firmly adhered to your tooth, so extra care must be taken while you have a temporary crown in place.
Once your permanent crown is ready, the temporary crown will be gently removed by your dentist using a special tool that allows the dentist to grab the crown and gently wiggle it loose and pop it off.
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What is a dental bridge?
Dental bridges are commonly used when a patient has lost one or more teeth. They are called bridges because they consist of one or more replacement teeth that bridge the gap that was created when the original teeth became lost.
Dental bridges can be secured using abutment crowns on each end or by using permanently installed precision metal mechanisms.
We custom-design each component of a dental bridge to ensure that it looks natural and provides the desired performance.
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What are porcelain fixed bridges?
Porcelain fixed bridges are non-removable appliances that are placed on teeth to replace a tooth that is missing. Porcelain bridges are made to match the natural color of your teeth and help fill in the gap where a tooth is missing. Bridges are essentially two crowns that anchor an artificial tooth in between.
The two crowns are cemented onto the teeth surrounding the missing tooth to help anchor the artificial tooth into place (abutment). The artificial tooth (pontic) is in place of the missing tooth to fill in the gap and allow your teeth to look natural.
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What is the process of getting a porcelain fixed bridge?
When you and your dentist decide that a porcelain fixed bridge is the right option for you, the dentist will begin preparing the two teeth that surround the missing tooth.
The teeth are prepared so that two crowns can be placed in order to support the artificial tooth. Several impressions will be taken in order for the dentist to determine the size of the crowns and artificial teeth.
Once the impressions are taken, they are sent to a dental laboratory where your bridge will be made. Setting a bridge generally takes two dental visits to complete. Once the dental laboratory has made your bridge, the dentist will cement the crowns into place.
Porcelain fixed bridges are very durable and can last a very long time when they are well taken care of. Your dentist will give you special instructions on how you can keep your bridge clean through brushing and flossing.