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Crowns, Bridgework and Veneers

What are Crowns and Bridges?

Crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. They are cemented onto existing teeth or implants and can only be removed by a dentist.

How do Crowns work?


A crown is used to entirely cover (or cap) a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening the tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment.

Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be colour-matched to blend in with your natural teeth. For back teeth, we might recommend gold or metal alloys, which are tougher and better suited to handle heavy chewing. Sometimes we use a combination — porcelain fused to a metal base — which gives you the strength of metal with a more natural-looking finish, especially in spots that need to look good and last.


Crowns are most frequently used to:

  • Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
  • Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
  • Restore a fractured tooth
  • Attach a bridge
  • Cover a dental implant
  • Cover a discoloured or poorly shaped tooth
  • Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment

How do Bridges Work?


A bridge is one way to replace a missing tooth — or a few missing teeth in a row. Leaving a gap for too long can cause other teeth to shift out of place, which can mess with your bite and even lead to jaw pain or gum trouble.

A bridge fills the gap with a false tooth, which is held in place by the teeth on either side. These neighbouring teeth are fitted with crowns, and the new tooth is attached in between. Once it’s in, the bridge is cemented in place — so it feels solid and doesn’t come out.

Like crowns, bridges can be made from different materials. Porcelain or ceramic options can be colour-matched to blend in naturally. Your dentist will talk you through what’s best based on where the bridge is going, how it needs to function, and what kind of look you want.

Veneers


Veneers are thin, custom-made porcelain covers that are bonded to the front of your teeth. They’re a great option for closing small gaps or improving the look of teeth that are chipped, uneven, or discoloured — especially if whitening hasn’t worked.