A crown is a cap or artificial tooth that is seated over the natural tooth for protection and support. Crowns can be made from many materials, but zirconia is commonly used and is a very strong material. A crown helps restore the tooth to a state which preserves as much of the natural tooth structure but also ensures it will be strong enough to function properly.
A crown is a great option when an additional filling would not be sufficient to protect the tooth or would have trouble adhering to structure that remains. A crown provides the affected tooth with additional strength and is a less invasive procedure in comparison to an extraction.
A bridge is like a crown in that it requires the teeth to become crowned (capped). But bridges differ in that they also restore an area where one or more teeth have been lost. Usually, the bridge consists of an artificial tooth fused between two crowns. If the patient does not have healthy enough teeth to support a bridge, then a dental implant may be an option.
