Restorative Dentistry
Crowns & Bridges in Downtown Los Angeles
One rebuilds a tooth. The other replaces one that has gone.
The two are usually named together and they solve different problems. Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry makes both from digital impressions, matched to the teeth around them.
The distinction
The difference in one paragraph
A crown is a custom-fitted cap that covers a tooth you still have — after a large filling, a root canal, decay, a break or significant wear. A bridge replaces a tooth you no longer have, by anchoring a replacement to whatever sits either side of the gap. If there is a tooth to save, it is a crown. If there is a gap to fill, it is a bridge. They are named together because the making of them is the same: both are designed from digital impressions, both are matched to the teeth around them, and most bridge designs are simply two crowns with a replacement tooth joined between them. What differs is the question being answered, and that is settled by whether the tooth is still there.
Crown materials
Crowns, by material
Where a crown sits decides the material more than anything else — how much load it takes, and how much of it shows when you talk.
- All ceramic The most natural-looking, and the usual choice for a tooth that shows. More on all ceramic crowns.
- Zirconia Exceptionally strong, and still tooth-colored — the usual answer at the back of the mouth. More on zirconia crowns.
- Gold The most forgiving material there is on an opposing tooth, and still the technically best choice in some cases. More on gold crowns.
The general treatment — consultation, preparation, digital impressions, placement — is the same for all three. See dental crowns.
Bridges, by design
- Traditional Supported by a crown on the tooth either side of the gap. The standard design. More.
- Cantilever Supported on one side only, where there is a sound tooth on just one edge of the gap. More.
- Maryland Bonded to the back of the neighboring teeth with wings rather than crowning them, so far less enamel is removed. More.
- Implant supported Anchored to implants rather than to your own teeth, so the neighbors are left untouched. More.
Or an implant instead
For a single missing tooth, a dental implant avoids altering the healthy teeth either side of the gap at all, which is the main argument for it over a traditional bridge. Which is right depends on the gap, the neighboring teeth and the bone underneath.
Crowns & Bridges FAQ
- What is the difference between a crown and a bridge?
- A crown covers and protects a tooth you still have. A bridge replaces one you have lost, by anchoring a replacement to the teeth or implants either side of the gap.
- Which crown material should I have?
- All ceramic for a tooth that shows, zirconia where strength matters most, gold where it is technically the best answer. We recommend per tooth rather than per patient.
- Do you take impressions with a tray?
- No — impressions are captured digitally with a scanner, which is what gives the precise fit.
- Is a bridge better than an implant?
- An implant does not require altering the healthy teeth either side of the gap, which is its main advantage. A bridge can be quicker and does not need surgery. It depends on the gap and on the bone.
- Will it match my other teeth?
- Yes — both are crafted to blend with the teeth around them in shape and color.
