Crowns and Bridges

Why Crowns are important:

• Prevents Catastrophic Cracks: Teeth with large fillings, deep decay, or structural trauma act like dry firewood—they are prone to snapping under normal chewing forces. A crown wraps around the tooth to stop fractures from deepening.

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• Protects Post-Root Canal Teeth: After a root canal, the nerve and blood supply are gone, which slowly dries out the tooth. Back teeth without a crown after a root canal have a very high risk of splitting within a few years. 

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• Saves the Natural Root: Placing a crown protects the remaining healthy tooth structure, which helps patients avoid a more expensive and invasive extraction and implant. 

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• Restores Comfort and Function: It seals exposed dentin to eliminate temperature sensitivity and lets the patient chew without fear of sharp pain or movement.

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• Long-Term Durability: Unlike large composite or amalgam fillings that repeatedly break down, a well-maintained crown provides a reliable fix that typically lasts 5 to 15 years (or longer). 

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What options do I have to

replace a missing tooth?

1. Dental Implants

• How it works: A small titanium or zirconia post is surgically placed into your jawbone to act as an artificial root, topped with a custom dental crown.

• Pros: Looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth; preserves jawbone density and does not affect neighboring teeth; can last a lifetime with good care. 

• Cons: Requires minor oral surgery and a healing period of several months; higher upfront cost.

 

2. Dental Bridges

• How it works: A traditional bridge anchors an artificial tooth (pontic) in the gap by placing crowns on the healthy natural teeth on either side. 

• Pros: Fixed in place (non-removable); faster treatment timeline than implants (completed in a couple of weeks); no surgery required.

• Cons: Requires reshaping or crowning healthy adjacent teeth; does not prevent jawbone loss under the missing tooth gap; typically lasts 5 to 15 years.

 

3. Removable Partial Dentures

• How it works: A prosthetic tooth (or teeth) is set into a plastic or metal base that clips or clasps onto your remaining natural teeth.

• Pros: More affordable upfront; non-invasive and quick to fabricate.

• Cons: Must be removed daily for cleaning and sleeping; can feel bulkier or less stable in the mouth; provides lower chewing efficiency than fixed options. 

 

4. Temporary Solutions (Flippers)

• How it works: A lightweight, removable partial denture (often called a flipper) fills the gap temporarily while you heal from an extraction or wait for a permanent implant or bridge.

• Pros: Very inexpensive and fast to make; keeps surrounding teeth from shifting in the short term.

• Cons: Fragile; meant only for temporary use rather than long-term biting and chewing.