What Is The Difference Between Dental Crowns & Bridges?

If you have one or more damaged or missing teeth, you may be exploring your options for restorative dentistry in Ridley Township. And you may be wondering what the differences are between dental bridges and dental crowns at Kite & Key Dentistry, and which treatment might be right for you. 

So let’s explore the basics of each treatment, how they’re different, and which one might be right for your own unique situation.
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Understanding The Basics Of Dental Crowns

Basically, a dental crown is a false tooth that’s designed to cover up a damaged or decayed tooth. Modern dental crowns are made of tooth-like porcelain, and they look and feel just like a natural tooth. They are permanently attached to your tooth to cover it up, protect it, and restore its appearance. 

Crowns are often recommended for teeth that have been damaged or compromised by oral injuries, untreated decay, or tooth infections. They are very effective at protecting the underlying tooth and preserving it, and have a very long lifespan of 10-20 years or longer.
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Understanding The Basics Of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are closely related to dental crowns, but are still quite different. Bridges use two dental crowns to support false teeth that replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth.

This is done by attaching the two dental crowns to healthy “abutment teeth” on either side of your missing teeth. These abutments support a “pontic” which is a false tooth that fills up the gap in your smile. Up to 2-3 pontics can be placed on a single dental bridge.

Dental bridges are a convenient and minimally-invasive way to restore missing teeth. They also are anchored tightly in place by your teeth, so they will never move, unlike dentures, and they look and feel very natural. 
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What Are The Differences Between Bridges & Crowns

So, how are crowns and bridges different? Here are a few of the biggest differences between these treatments.

• Purpose of treatment – The purposes of dental crowns and bridges are completely different. Crowns are used to restore damaged teeth, while bridges are used to restore one or more missing teeth.
  
  
• Cost & complexity – As you would expect, dental bridges are more complex since they involve more teeth, which means they also cost a lot more than dental crowns.
  
  
• Longevity & lifespan – Because dental bridges are more complex than crowns, they tend to have a shorter lifespan of about 10 years, while crowns usually last up to 10-20 years.
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Learn More About Dental Crowns & Bridges At Kite & Key Dentistry 

At Kite & Key Dentistry, Dr. Julia Winter can help you explore your options for restoring your smile, including both dental crowns and bridges. Our team can work with you to repair your damaged teeth, replace missing teeth, and restore your oral health and self-confidence.
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So don’t wait. Contact us online or give us a call at 484-240-7741 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Winter, explore your options in more detail, and restore your smile in Ridley Township, Ridley Park, and Folsom.