Crowns & Bridges

Restoring damaged or missing teeth

Crowns and bridges are two of the most reliable ways to restore a damaged tooth or replace a missing one — protecting your remaining teeth, restoring function, and improving the look of your smile.

Dental crowns

A crown (sometimes called a “cap”) fits over a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its shape, strength and appearance. Crowns are a great way to preserve the structure of a tooth, allow comfortable, uninhibited chewing, and improve its appearance cosmetically.

To fit a crown, the tooth needs to be reduced in size by approximately 40–50%, making room for the crown to sit over it and restore it to its original shape and size.

Material options:

• Porcelain — the most natural-looking option, ideal where appearance matters most (e.g. front teeth)
• Zirconia — strong and natural-looking, suitable for both front and back teeth
• Gold or other metals — highly durable, typically used for back teeth where strength matters more than visibility

Approached as a long-term solution, a well-placed crown can generally be expected to last at least 10 years, though — as with anything — future complications are possible, and we’re always happy to talk through what to expect for your specific case.

Dental bridges

A bridge closes the gap left by a missing tooth. It works by placing a crown on each of the two teeth either side of the gap, with a false tooth held between them — effectively three teeth joined together to look and function as one continuous row.

With the rise of dental implants, bridges are used less often than they once were. This is largely because a bridge requires cutting down the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the crowns, whereas an implant doesn’t rely on neighbouring teeth at all. That said, a bridge can still be the right solution in certain cases — your dentist will help you weigh up which option suits your situation best.

What to expect: the process

1. Assessment — your dentist examines the tooth (or gap) and discusses the best option for your case.
2. Preparation — the tooth (or teeth, for a bridge) is prepared and reduced to make room for the crown.
3. Temporary restoration — a temporary crown or bridge is fitted while your permanent restoration is custom-made.
4. Fitting — your permanent crown or bridge is fitted and adjusted for a comfortable, natural result.

Cost

Crowns: $1,750

Bridges: from $4,500, depending on how many teeth the bridge is replacing

We’re happy to talk through a personalised quote at your consultation.