Even if your tooth has lost more than 50% of its structure because of fracture, decay or previous treatment, we usually can still save it by placing a crown. 

A crown is a restoration that covers, or “caps”, a damaged tooth for the purpose of restoring the normal shape, size and function. It is permanently cemented or bonded into place.  

The Crown is so named because it replaces the top part (the crown) of the tooth.  A crown surrounds the entire top of the tooth and prevents any individual part of the tooth from fracturing.  

If a tooth has lost more than 50% of its structure it is too weak to withstand the forces of normal chewing and will eventually fracture over time.  By fabricating a crown, we can protect the remaining (weakened) tooth structure. 

Crowns can be made of various materials including gold, porcelain fused to metal, or all porcelain.  Different types of crowns are indicated in different situations.  

Bridges replace missing teeth.  If you have large spaces between teeth, your adjacent teeth usually move and change position.  This shifting can cause periodontal problems, bite-related problems, and result in your inability to properly chew food.  We usually recommend that missing teeth be replaced.   

To fabricate a bridge, crowns are placed on the teeth adjacent to the empty space, and a replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached between. The end result is that the space is filled with a natural looking tooth that functions much the same as the original tooth.   

If the teeth on either side of the space are already in need of crowns, the missing tooth or teeth can usually be with a bridge. If the adjacent teeth are intact and have little or no filling material in them, a dental implant may be a better alternative.