A crown is a cap that covers a damaged tooth, and a bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by joining to the teeth or implants beside the gap. Cost depends mainly on the material, the number of units, the extra treatment needed first and the laboratory work. With good cleaning, crowns and bridges often last 10 to 15 years or longer.
What crowns and bridges do
A crown is a cap made to fit over a tooth. It is used when a tooth is badly decayed, cracked, worn, heavily filled or has had a root canal, and a filling would not be strong enough. The crown restores the shape and strength of the tooth and protects what is left of it.
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. An artificial tooth, called a pontic, is joined to crowns on the teeth beside the gap, or to implants. It is fixed in place and you do not take it out. The supporting teeth must stay healthy, as they carry the load.
Both are made in a dental laboratory from impressions or digital scans of your teeth, which is why treatment usually takes two visits, 1 to 3 weeks apart, with a temporary crown in between.
Types of crown
- Metal (for example gold alloy or base metal). Very strong and needs the least tooth reduction, but the colour is obvious. Often used on back teeth, though less common now.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal. A metal shell with a porcelain layer. Strong and tooth-coloured, but a thin dark line can show at the gum, and the porcelain can chip.
- Zirconia. A very hard ceramic. Strong enough for back teeth, and also made in more natural shades for the front.
- All-ceramic or glass-ceramic. The most natural look, often chosen for front teeth. Some types are less strong in the back of the mouth, so your dentist will match the material to the bite on that tooth.
No one material suits every tooth. The choice depends on where the tooth is, how hard you bite, whether you grind, the space available and how visible the tooth is.
Types of bridge
- Conventional (fixed) bridge. The teeth next to the gap are shaped and crowned to hold the pontic. It is quick compared with an implant, but healthy tooth must be reduced.
- Cantilever bridge. Supported on one side only. It is used in limited situations, as the load on the single support is greater.
- Resin-bonded bridge. A metal or ceramic wing bonded to the back of a neighbouring tooth, with less cutting. It suits selected front teeth and may come loose more easily.
- Implant-supported bridge. Rests on implants rather than natural teeth. It spares the neighbours but needs surgery and healing time. See dental implants.
What affects the cost
No figures are given here, because the amount depends on your mouth. These are the usual factors:
- Material. Metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, zirconia and all-ceramic differ in the materials and in the laboratory work.
- Number of units. A bridge counts every crown and every pontic. Replacing two teeth needs more units than one, and more lab work.
- Treatment needed first. A root canal, gum treatment, a build-up on a broken tooth or an extraction may have to come before the crown or bridge.
- Scans and impressions. X-rays are routine, and some cases need more imaging. Digital scans or conventional impressions are both used.
- Laboratory and number of visits. Custom shades, characterisation and any remakes add to lab time.
- The dentist's training and the clinic. Experience, sterilisation and consumables are part of any fee.
When you receive an estimate, ask for it in writing, and ask what it includes: the temporary crown, the scans, any build-up, follow-up visits and any remake. Our page on dental treatment costs explains how estimates are set out.
Looking after crowns and bridges
The crown itself cannot decay, but the tooth under it, and the gum around it, can. Most failures come from decay at the edge or from gum disease.
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush, paying attention to the line where the crown meets the gum.
- Clean between the teeth daily. Under a bridge, floss cannot pass through in the usual way, so use a floss threader, super-floss or interdental brushes as shown to you.
- Be careful with very hard, sticky or chewy foods in the first days and, ideally, always on a bridge. Do not use the crowned tooth to open packets or crack ice.
- If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard. Grinding can chip porcelain and loosen cement.
- Attend check-ups, commonly every 6 to 12 months, so the margins and the bite can be checked.
It is normal for a new crown to feel slightly high or sensitive to cold for a few days to a couple of weeks. If it stays high, or the sensitivity lasts, tell your dentist so that the bite can be adjusted.
How long they last
Crowns and bridges commonly last 10 to 15 years, and many last longer, but this varies with the material, the tooth, your cleaning and your bite. They are not permanent, and may need to be replaced at some point.
When to see a dentist
- A crown or bridge that feels loose, moves or has come off
- Pain when you bite, or sensitivity that does not settle
- A chip or crack in the porcelain, or a dark line or gap at the gum
- Bleeding, bad taste or swelling around a crown or bridge
- A broken or heavily filled tooth that you think may need a crown
Related treatment: Crowns and bridges →