A crown is a custom-made cover that fits over a damaged tooth and restores its shape and strength. A bridge replaces a missing tooth by joining a false tooth to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. Both are long-established, predictable treatments, and both are decisions worth understanding properly, because they involve permanently reshaping tooth structure.
When a tooth needs a crown
Fillings work well while enough healthy tooth remains to hold them. Once too much structure has been lost, a filling starts to act like a wedge and the remaining walls of the tooth are at risk of fracturing. A crown does the opposite: it wraps around the tooth and holds it together. Common reasons include:
A tooth that has cracked, or has a large old filling with thin surrounding walls
After root canal treatment, particularly on back teeth that take heavy chewing forces
A tooth worn down significantly by grinding
Heavily discoloured or misshapen teeth where bonding or veneers are not enough
Restoring a dental implant
The signal patients most often notice is a sharp pain on biting or releasing a bite, which can indicate a crack. Cracks are much easier to treat before the tooth splits.
What crowns are made from
Most modern crowns are all-ceramic, which handles light like natural enamel and looks convincing at the front of the mouth. Zirconia is a very strong ceramic often chosen for back teeth where forces are highest. Traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are strong but can show a dark line at the gum over time. Gold is exceptionally durable and kind to opposing teeth, though few patients now choose it for visible teeth.
Which material suits you depends on where the tooth sits, how hard you bite, and how much space is available. We will explain the trade-off rather than default to one option.
How a bridge works
A conventional bridge uses the teeth on either side of a gap as supports. Those teeth are prepared for crowns, and the false tooth is joined between them, so the whole unit is cemented in place and is not removable. Bridges at Pear Tree Dental start from £710 per unit, and a bridge is counted in units — a single missing tooth supported by a crown either side is a three-unit bridge.
There is also an adhesive bridge, sometimes called a Maryland bridge, which bonds a false tooth to the back of a neighbouring tooth using a thin metal or ceramic wing. It involves far less preparation of the supporting tooth, which is a real advantage, and it is often a good choice for a missing front tooth in a young patient.
Bridge or implant?
The honest comparison matters here. A bridge is quicker, needs no surgery, and works well when the neighbouring teeth are already crowned or heavily filled. Its drawback is that it commits two healthy teeth to being permanently reshaped if they were previously untouched.
An implant replaces the missing tooth on its own root and leaves the neighbouring teeth alone. It costs more and takes longer, with single implants starting from £2,500, but it does not put sound teeth at risk. Where the adjacent teeth are pristine, that argument carries real weight. We compare the alternatives in detail in our guide to implants, bridges and dentures.
What the appointments involve
A conventional crown or bridge usually takes two visits. At the first, the tooth is prepared under local anaesthetic, an impression or digital scan is taken, and a temporary restoration is fitted. The laboratory then makes the final piece, and at the second visit it is checked for fit, bite and appearance before being cemented.
Temporaries are deliberately less strongly attached, so avoid very sticky or hard food while wearing one. If a temporary comes off, keep it and contact us — it usually goes straight back on.
How long they last, and what shortens their life
Well-made crowns and bridges commonly last ten to fifteen years, and often considerably longer. What ends their life is rarely the crown itself; it is what happens underneath. Decay at the margin where the crown meets the tooth, or gum disease loosening the supporting teeth, are the usual culprits.
Clean the gumline carefully — the margin is where problems start
Clean under a bridge daily with superfloss or an interdental brush, as normal floss cannot pass through
Wear a night guard if you grind, which is a common cause of ceramic fracture
Keep up hygienist visits, from £70 with a hygienist, to keep the supporting gums healthy
Avoid using your teeth to open packaging or bite nails
Getting assessed
If a tooth is cracked, heavily filled or missing, the sensible first step is an examination and X-ray so we can see how much healthy structure remains. We will set out the options, including doing nothing where that is reasonable, with costs in writing. See our restorative dentistry services, or call our Burton Joyce practice on 0115 931 2935 to arrange a visit.
FAQ
Q: How much does a bridge cost in Nottingham? A: At Pear Tree Dental, ceramic bridges start from £710 per unit. A single missing tooth supported by a crown either side is a three-unit bridge, so the total reflects the number of units involved.
Q: How long do crowns and bridges last? A: Commonly ten to fifteen years and often longer. They usually fail because of decay at the margin or gum disease around the supporting teeth, rather than the crown breaking.
Q: Is a bridge better than an implant? A: Neither is universally better. A bridge is faster and avoids surgery but requires reshaping the teeth either side. An implant leaves neighbouring teeth untouched but costs more and takes longer.
Q: Do I need a crown after root canal treatment? A: Often yes, particularly on back teeth. A root-treated tooth is more brittle, and a crown protects it from fracturing under chewing forces.
Q: How do I clean under a bridge? A: Ordinary floss cannot pass between the units, so use superfloss or an interdental brush to clean beneath the false tooth daily. This is the single most important habit for making a bridge last.