The Difference Between Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges

A dental crown — a protective cap that gets affixed over a specific tooth — can serve a variety of purposes, from strengthening a tooth after a root canal to anchoring a dental bridge in place. Bridges are similarly versatile, helping to replace a single missing tooth or a whole set of teeth. Just knowing these are dental terms isn’t enough to keep you in the know about what your mouth may need.

Not only do Melissa Daza, DDS, Michelle Schwartz, DDS, and our team at Bucktown Wicker Park Dental offer crowns and bridges, but we also offer patient education. We want to help you feel knowledgeable about any dental treatments we recommend. 

So let’s take a look at crowns, bridges, and what you should know about each. 

The basics of dental crowns

Because they can be used to treat such a wide variety of issues, dental crowns are one of the most popular dental restorations. These crowns are small caps that go over individual teeth to protect them. Some crowns are made of metal, but Dr. Daza and Dr. Schwartz create our dental crowns from material that gives the tooth a natural appearance once the crown is in place. 

Adding a crown to cover a damaged tooth surface can restore your tooth to full strength while preventing further damage. If you have a cracked or chipped tooth or you recently received a root canal, for example, you’ll likely need a crown to protect your tooth.

The basics of dental bridges 

While you have a variety of options for replacing a missing tooth, dental implant surgery can be too expensive for some people to afford and dentures can feel awkward. 

Dental bridges provide an alternative. These replacement teeth are held in place using crowns put over the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. 

Crowns vs. bridges

Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Daza will let you know when you might need a crown and/or a bridge. 

Generally, if the issue lies with a single tooth but it can be saved, a crown might be enough to correct the problem and prevent future issues. 

If your tooth has already fallen out, been extracted, or is seriously damaged or decayed and needs to be removed, you might need a bridge to replace it. A bridge can provide you with a usable tooth and a natural-looking smile. 

Whether you’ve got a damaged tooth or a gap in your smile, Dr. Daza and Dr. Schwartz are here to help. Call our office to schedule your appointment today.