If you have lost one or more teeth due to injury or decay or want to improve your appearance, your dentist could recommend dental crowns and bridges to restore your smile. But how do you decide between crown implants and bridges? In this article, you learn about these two fixed tooth replacement options' similarities, differences, pros, and cons.

At Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry, our skilled dentists provide top-notch dental crown and bridge restorations. We use advanced techniques and modern technology to ensure your treatment achieves the desired results. Our team of professionals will support you throughout the process, answering your questions and tailoring your treatment plan to fit your specific needs.

What are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are artificial dental appliances that replace missing teeth. They can replace a single tooth or several teeth in a row by joining artificial teeth to dental implants or adjacent teeth. As the name suggests, they “bridge the gap” in your smile. Dentists can make custom bridges that match the color of your natural teeth.

A dental bridge has different parts:

Anchor Crowns

Anchor crowns or abutment teeth are dental crowns that anchor dental bridges. Anchor crowns are fitted on each side of a missing tooth to support the artificial tooth.

Artificial Teeth or Pontics

Pontics are the artificial teeth on dental implants that replace missing teeth. They restore the function and aesthetics of your teeth. Dentists fit pontics between the abutment teeth except for the cantilever bridge. They are also permanently fixed to the anchor crowns. Depending on your situation, your bridge could have more than one pontic.

What are Dental Crowns?

The crown is the visible part of a tooth covered in white enamel. It is located above the gum line, connects to the root below it, and anchors the tooth to the jaw.

A dental crown is a cap that fits over a damaged natural tooth. It is securely attached to the remaining part of the tooth and looks and functions like the original healthy tooth. Sometimes, a crown is part of a dental bridge, consisting of several crowns connected to fill the gap of a missing tooth.

Why You Might Need Dental Bridges and Crowns

Dental crowns and bridges are similar because they are both fixed dental devices. They involve attaching a false tooth to your natural teeth or implants using cement. The key difference is that dentists only use bridges to replace missing teeth and crowns to repair damaged natural teeth.

Here are some reasons you might think about receiving a dental bridge or crown:

  • To strengthen weak teeth
  • Restore teeth with large cavities
  • To cover dental implants
  • Secure dental bridges
  • Hide badly discolored or stained teeth
  • Protect teeth weakened by several fillings or root canal treatments
  • To support dental bridgework

Types of Dental Bridges

A dentist will offer various types of bridges depending on your dental needs. The four main types of dental bridges include:

Traditional Dental Bridges

These are the most common types of dental bridges. Traditional bridges are a good choice if you have lost a tooth but still have healthy teeth on each side of the toothless gap. The artificial tooth usually has dental crowns on both sides, which your dentist attaches to your real teeth. Your dentist can custom-make them to match your real teeth and restore your smile.

Cantilever Dental Bridges

This dental bridge helps if you have lost a tooth and only have one real tooth next to the gap. The gap could be adjacent to a dental implant or the last tooth in your mouth. Cantilever dental bridges are similar to traditional bridges but have only one crown attached to the artificial tooth. However, they are not as strong as traditional bridges.

Maryland Dental Bridge

This bridge uses metal wings instead of crowns to hold it in place. The dentist bonds the wings to the backs of the nearby teeth. Dental experts use Maryland dental bridges to replace front teeth, as they are not strong enough for the back teeth.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridge

This type resembles a traditional bridge but uses dental implants instead of natural teeth for support. Implants are small posts that replace missing tooth roots. The implants should fuse with the jawbone before attaching the bridge, which usually takes three to six months or more. This type of dental bridge is a good choice when you have three or more missing teeth.

A dentist will look at several things to decide what kind of bridge you need, such as: 

  • Your age (usually, dentists do not recommend dental bridges for children)
  • The number of missing teeth
  • The size of the toothless gap
  • The health of the teeth next to the gap
  • If you have real teeth on both sides of the gap
  • The general health of your teeth and gums
  • Your personal preferences

Types of Dental Crowns

There are several types of dental crowns available. The kind of crown your dentist recommends often depends on your preferences and specific dental health needs. They include:

Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal (PFM) Crowns

A PFM is a dental crown that has a metallic base structure. It combines the durability of metal with the aesthetic appearance of porcelain. Dentists can customize these crowns to match your natural tooth color.

However, PFM crowns do have some downsides. The porcelain layer can chip away over time, revealing the metal beneath. Additionally, they may wear down the enamel of the teeth that come into contact with them when you bite.

Metal Crowns

Dental experts create metal crowns using palladium, gold, chromium, and nickel. These crowns are strong, rarely chip or break, and have a long lifespan. They need only a little enamel removed and can handle biting and chewing well.

The main downside is their metallic color. Metal crowns work well for molars that are not visible.

Porcelain or All-Ceramic Crowns

All ceramic or porcelain crowns look more like natural tooth enamel than any other type of crown. They are also suitable for people with metal allergies.

Technicians use various materials, such as Zirconia, to create ceramic crowns. Zirconia crowns are strong and can handle more pressure than other ceramic crowns. They are also gentle on your other teeth, causing less wear on the enamel.

All-Resin Dental Crowns

Resin dental crowns are usually cheaper than other crown types. However, they are more delicate and break easily than porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns. Dentists often use resin for temporary crowns, which typically last three to five years.

Pressed Ceramic Dental Crowns

A pressed ceramic crown has a strong inner core made of ceramic, unlike a PFM crown, which has a metal core. To create this core, a technician heats and compresses ceramic in a high-temperature oven. After that, they apply several layers of porcelain. Like all-porcelain crowns, pressed ceramic crowns resemble the natural translucency of tooth enamel.

Pressed ceramic crowns share the same issues as PFM crowns, as the ceramic layers can wear down and chip over time. Dentists can use pressed ceramic crowns for both front and back teeth.

Same-Day Dental Crowns

Many dentists now use Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing technology to make crowns right in their offices while you wait. This system lets your dentist take digital impressions of your teeth and design a custom crown based on those impressions. After designing, the dentist sends the files to an on-site milling machine, creating your new crown from a solid ceramic piece.

The main benefit of CAD/CAM technology is that you can receive a dental crown in just one visit. However, same-day crowns may not be suitable for everyone. You should consult with your dentist to see if you qualify.

The Dental Bridge Procedure

A dental bridge procedure involves replacing missing teeth with custom-made bridges. Your dentist will perform the dental procedure depending on the type of dental bridge you need.

Traditional and Cantilever Dental Bridges

For a traditional or cantilever bridge, your dentist will:

  • Numb the area with local anesthesia to ensure you feel comfortable during the procedure
  • Shape your abutment teeth. This process involves removing some enamel, and it is irreversible
  • Take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental lab, where a technician will make your final bridge
  • Implant a temporary bridge while the laboratory works on your permanent one, which usually takes two to four weeks

On your next visit, when your final bridge is ready, your dentist will:

  • Take off the temporary bridge
  • Check the fit of your new bridge
  • Secure your new bridge with dental cement

Some dentists may use CAD/CAM technology to create custom bridges in their offices during the same visit. You can ask your dentist if this option is available for you.

Maryland Dental Bridges

For a Maryland dental bridge installation, your dentist will:

  • Prepare the teeth for the wings.
  • Take impressions of your teeth and send them to a laboratory. (A technician will use these to create your final bridge)
  • Your dentist will set up a second appointment when your bridge is ready.

At this visit, they will:

  • Fit your new Maryland bridge and check how it feels.
  • Use a dental etch on the back of your nearby teeth to help the cement stick
  • Attach the metal wings of the Maryland bridge to the backs of your teeth with dental resin cement

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

An implant-supported dental bridge involves multiple visits to the dentist, including one for surgery. During the first visit, a dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon will:

  • Numb your mouth with anesthesia
  • Perform surgery to place dental implants in your jaw

After the surgery, the implants need time to heal and bond with your jawbone. This healing process is called osseointegration. The healing usually takes three to six months but may take longer based on individual circumstances.

Once the implants have bonded, your dentist will:

  • Attach small connector posts, called impression copings, to the implants and take impressions of your teeth
  • Send these impressions to a dental lab for your new bridge
  • Remove the abutments while waiting for the lab to create your implant-supported bridge

When your bridge is ready, your dentist will:

  • Attach the abutments and the bridge to the implants and check the fit
  • Secure the bridge using dental cement or small screws, which should not cause pain
  • Since dental implants require several months to bond with the jaw, implant-supported bridges take longer than other types of bridges

The Dental Crowns Procedure

Dental crown placement usually involves two dental checkup visits:

First Dental Checkup Visit

During your first dental visit, your dentist will conduct the following steps:

  • Tooth Preparation

To prepare your tooth for the crown, your dentist will remove some natural enamel. This process creates space for the new crown and helps it stay secure once attached. Your dentist might also use a filling material to shape certain areas of your tooth. The main goal is to build a solid base for the new crown.

  • Taking Impressions

Next, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth. These can be physical impressions made with a putty-like substance or digital impressions using a handheld scanner. The dentist sends the impressions to a dental lab, where a technician will create your custom crown.

  • Temporary Crown Fitting

The lab usually takes two to three weeks, or sometimes longer, to make your dental crown. While you wait, your dentist will place a temporary crown, often made of resin or acrylic.

Second Dental Checkup Visit

Once the laboratory completes your dental crown, they will return it to your dentist. During the second visit, your dentist will:

  • Remove the temporary crown.
  • Check the shape, color, and fit of the new crown.
  • Attach the new crown to your tooth using strong dental cement.

Risks and Benefits

Dental bridges and crowns have several advantages. However, they also come with some disadvantages. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of dental bridges:

Benefits of Using Dental Bridges

Some of the advantages of dental bridges include:

  • Provide a natural-looking solution for missing teeth
  • Help with eating and speaking (missing teeth can make these tasks hard)
  • Stop nearby teeth from moving into the gap left by lost teeth

Drawbacks of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges have some downsides:

  • If the supporting teeth are not strong enough, they might break
  • If your supporting teeth are damaged from decay or injury, it can weaken the dental bridge
  • Plaque and bacteria can lead to gum issues or cavities if you do not clean the bridges and gums well

The benefits and drawbacks of dental crowns include:

Benefits of Dental Crowns

A key benefit of dental crowns is that they help extend the life of a natural tooth. Crowns can also:

  • Fix worn, broken, or decayed teeth
  • Shield teeth from wear and tear
  • Enhance chewing ability
  • Improve your smile
  • Last between five and 15 years with good care

Disadvantages of Dental Crowns

However, there are some downsides to receiving dental crowns. For example:

  • A dentist should remove some natural tooth enamel before implanting the crown
  • It might cause sensitivity in the teeth, especially in the first few weeks after installation
  • It can break or crack over time
  • The crown can trap bacteria and lead to decay if it does not fit well
  • Dental crowns may cause an allergic reaction in rare cases
  • It can be costly to receive dental crowns

How Long Does Recovery Take After Receiving a Dental Bridge or Crown?

Most people can return to work, school, and daily activities after having a dental crown. You could feel some sensitivity for the first few weeks, especially to hot and cold temperatures. You might also notice soreness or tenderness in your gums near the treated tooth. These effects are normal and should fade in a few days. To help with any discomfort, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Recovery times for dental bridge placement can differ from individual to individual and depend on various factors, such as how well you follow the post-operative care instructions. Generally, the teeth and gums take about one to two weeks to heal. However, your new dental bridge might take longer to feel natural and comfortable.

How Long Do Dental Crowns and Bridges Last?

Dental crowns can last more than 30 years with proper care. However, you should replace them sooner if they crack or sustain damage. If you see any wear or damage, consider a replacement.

Dental bridges usually last around five to 15 years. With proper care, some can last even longer. Dentists often call them “permanent bridges” because only dentists can remove them. However, they do not last indefinitely, and you should replace them if they show wear or damage.

Contact an LA Family Dentist Near Me

Dental crowns provide a reliable option for restoring damaged teeth, while dental bridges can repair the gaps left by a single or multiple missing teeth. The ideal procedure depends on whether your original teeth can be retained or replaced. Contact us at Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry for a consultation if you require restorative dentistry. We offer a wide range of dental treatment services, including dental crowns and bridges, to help improve the function and beauty of your natural teeth. Call us now at 310-361-2080 to speak with one of our LA dentists.