VisitsUsually two visits
BetweenTemporary while the lab works
InsurancePlans often cover part
In short
A crown is a cap that covers a cracked, weak or heavily filled tooth so you can chew on it again. A bridge is a false tooth held in place by crowns on the teeth either side of a gap.
Does this sound like you?
- A tooth has cracked or broken and there is not enough left to hold a filling.
- A large old filling keeps breaking, or the tooth around it is chipping away.
- You have had a root canal. A crown protects that tooth from splitting.
- A tooth is missing and the teeth next to it are starting to drift into the gap.
- You wear a removable partial denture and want something that stays put.
Filling, onlay or crown?
Dr. Malik tries to save as much of your own tooth as he safely can, then picks the smallest repair that will hold.
Filling
- Usually enough when
- A small or medium hole, with strong walls of tooth around it
- How much tooth is removed
- Only the decay
- How it is made
- Shaped in your mouth from soft material that sets hard
- How long it usually lasts
- Several years; large ones wear or chip sooner
- Visits
- Usually one
- Cost, roughly
- The least
Onlay
- Usually enough when
- A large hole or a lost corner, but the rest of the tooth is sound
- How much tooth is removed
- The decay and the weak part; the sound walls stay
- How it is made
- Made by a lab to fit the gap, then bonded in
- How long it usually lasts
- Often longer than a large filling
- Visits
- Usually two, a few weeks apart
- Cost, roughly
- More; lab fee included
Crown
- Usually enough when
- Little sound tooth left, a crack, or a tooth that has had a root canal
- How much tooth is removed
- The whole outside of the tooth is shaped down so a cap fits over it
- How it is made
- Made by a lab to cover the tooth, then cemented on
- How long it usually lasts
- Usually the longest of the three
- Visits
- Usually two, a few weeks apart
- Cost, roughly
- The most; plans often cover part
What crowns are made of
Dr. Malik suggests a material based on where the tooth is and how hard you bite there; the choice is yours.
Porcelain or ceramic
- How it looks
- Closest match to a natural tooth
- Strength
- Strong, but can chip under a heavy bite or grinding
- Kind to other teeth
- Gentle on the teeth it bites against
- Usually used for
- Front teeth, where looks matter most
Zirconia
- How it looks
- Tooth-coloured; newer types look very natural
- Strength
- Very strong; rarely chips
- Kind to other teeth
- Hard; can wear the opposite tooth if left unpolished
- Usually used for
- Back teeth, heavy biters, grinders
Porcelain fused to metal
- How it looks
- Tooth-coloured; a dark line can show at the gum over time
- Strength
- Strong metal core; the porcelain layer can chip
- Kind to other teeth
- Gentle where it is porcelain
- Usually used for
- Back teeth or bridges; a long-standing option
Gold
- How it looks
- Gold-coloured; it does not try to hide
- Strength
- Very strong; bends rather than breaks
- Kind to other teeth
- The gentlest on opposing teeth
- Usually used for
- Back molars out of sight, especially for grinders
What happens.
First visit to finish, in order.
Usually two visitsTemporary while the lab worksPlans often cover part
- Exam and planDr. Malik checks the tooth and an X-ray, then tells you whether a filling, a crown or a bridge is the right fix.
- Prepare the toothWe numb the area properly, remove any decay and shape the tooth so a crown fits over it. For a bridge, the tooth on each side of the gap is shaped the same way.
- Impression or scanWe take a mould or scan of the prepared teeth and match the colour to your other teeth. A dental lab makes the crown or bridge from this.
- Temporary coverYou leave with a temporary crown or bridge cemented in place. It usually stays on for a few weeks while the lab does its work.
- Fit the final oneAt the second visit we remove the temporary, clean the tooth and cement the finished crown or bridge. We check your bite and adjust it until it feels right.
Cost and insurance.
A crown or bridge usually takes two visits a few weeks apart, and the lab fee is part of the cost. Most dental plans cover part of a crown, often with a yearly limit, and some ask to approve it in advance; we send that request. We bill your insurance directly. You see the estimate in writing before anything starts. No insurance? We tell you the cost up front.
Questions people ask.
What are crowns made of?
Tooth-coloured porcelain or ceramic, gold, or metal with a porcelain layer over it. Dr. Malik recommends one based on where the tooth is and how hard you bite on it, and you choose.
How long does a crown or bridge last?
Many years, with brushing, flossing and regular check-ups. Like any dental work it can wear or loosen over time, and may eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced.
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed for the shaping, and it may be sensitive for a few days after each visit. Nitrous oxide is an option if you are nervous, and we pause whenever you ask.
Should I get a bridge or an implant for a missing tooth?
A bridge is quicker and needs no surgery, but the teeth on either side must be shaped to hold it. An implant leaves the neighbours untouched but takes a few months of healing. Dr. Malik does both and goes through which suits your mouth.