Dental Crowns & Bridges
Custom restorations that rebuild a damaged tooth or replace a missing one, matched to your natural teeth, at our Fremont, Cupertino, and Milpitas offices.
What crowns and bridges do
A filling repairs a small part of a tooth. A crown goes further. It is a custom-made cap that covers the whole visible part of a tooth, holding it together and taking the chewing load when too much structure has been lost to decay, a crack, a root canal, or years of wear. The American Dental Association describes crowns as the standard way to strengthen a tooth that can no longer hold a filling.
A bridge replaces a missing tooth. It is a connected set of crowns: the ones on either side anchor to your remaining teeth, and a replacement tooth sits between them to fill the gap. The whole unit is cemented in place, so it stays put and does not come out for cleaning the way a partial denture does.
Both are among the longest-serving restorations in dentistry, and patients across Fremont, Cupertino, Milpitas, and the wider Bay Area rely on them every day to keep chewing, speaking, and smiling normally.
When a crown is the right call
The choice between a filling and a crown comes down to how much healthy tooth is left. When there is plenty, a filling does the job. When there is too little to support one under chewing forces, a filling would crack or fall out, and a crown is the treatment that lasts. Your doctor will explain which applies to your tooth, and we do not recommend a crown when a filling will do.
Common reasons for a crown
- A large cavity that a filling cannot safely restore.
- A cracked or fractured tooth that needs to be held together.
- After a root canal, especially on molars, where the tooth becomes brittle.
- A tooth worn down by grinding that needs its height and shape rebuilt.
- A misshapen or badly discolored tooth that other treatments cannot fix.
- Anchoring a bridge on either side of a missing tooth.
Crown materials
The right material depends on which tooth is being restored, how hard you bite, how visible the tooth is, and your budget. Your doctor will recommend one and explain why. These are the four you will hear about most.
All-ceramic. Porcelain or lithium disilicate. The closest match to natural enamel, with the translucency that makes front teeth look real. The usual choice where appearance matters most.
Zirconia. Tooth-colored and exceptionally strong. Well suited to back molars and to patients who grind. Newer zirconia looks far more natural than early versions did.
Porcelain fused to metal. A metal core with porcelain layered over it. Strong and well proven, though a thin dark line can show at the gumline as gums recede over the years.
Gold alloy. Extremely durable and gentle on the opposing teeth. Chosen mainly for back molars that never show, by patients who prioritise longevity over color.
A well-made crown should disappear into your smile. You should not be able to tell which tooth was treated, and neither should anyone else.
What getting a crown involves
A crown usually takes two visits, about two to three weeks apart. At the first visit the tooth is prepared and impressions are taken; a dental lab then makes your permanent crown while you wear a temporary one. At the second visit the permanent crown is fitted and cemented. Total chair time across both visits is around two hours, and you are numb for the parts that need it.
Prepare the tooth. Any decay or old filling material is removed and the tooth is shaped so the crown will fit over it snugly. Local anesthetic keeps you comfortable throughout.
Take impressions. A digital scan or traditional impression records the exact shape the lab needs, and the shade is matched to your neighboring teeth.
Fit a temporary crown. It protects the prepared tooth and keeps your bite normal while the permanent crown is made.
Cement the permanent crown. The temporary comes off, the new crown is checked for fit, contact, and bite, adjusted if needed, then bonded in place.
How a bridge works
A bridge follows the same two-visit process, with the teeth on each side of the gap prepared for crowns at the same time. The lab makes the crowns and the replacement tooth as one connected piece, and it is cemented onto the anchor teeth at the second visit.
Bridges are a good fit when the neighboring teeth already need crowns, or when a patient prefers to avoid surgery. A dental implant is the other way to replace a missing tooth: it stands on its own without touching the neighbors and helps preserve the bone underneath, but it costs more and takes longer. Your doctor will walk through both so you can choose with the full picture.
Living with a bridge
- Floss under it daily. A floss threader or water flosser reaches beneath the replacement tooth, and we will show you how.
- Keep the anchor teeth healthy. The bridge lasts only as long as the teeth holding it, so those margins get extra attention at every exam.
- Expect it to feel like your own teeth within a few days of placement.
Aftercare and how long they last
A well-cared-for crown commonly lasts well over a decade, and bridges are not far behind. The biggest factor is what happens between visits, since a crown cannot decay but the tooth underneath and around it still can.
While the temporary is on
- Skip sticky and very hard foods. Caramel and ice can pull a temporary off.
- Some sensitivity is normal. Hot and cold may feel different until the permanent crown is placed.
- Floss by pulling out sideways, not up through the contact, so the temporary stays seated.
- Call us if it comes off. Re-cementing it takes a few minutes.
Long term
- Brush and floss as usual. The margin where crown meets tooth is where problems start, and it is hard to see at home.
- Do not bite ice or hard candy. Porcelain can chip under sudden heavy force.
- Wear a night guard if you grind. Grinding shortens the life of any restoration.
- Keep your routine exams. Every crown and bridge is checked at every visit.
Crowns and bridges, answered
How long does a crown last?
With good care, a crown commonly lasts well over a decade, and many go much longer. Grinding, skipped exams, and biting hard objects are the main things that shorten that. Bridges typically last a little less, because they depend on two anchor teeth staying healthy.
Does getting a crown hurt?
Not during the visit. You are fully numb for the preparation. Some sensitivity to cold for a few days after each appointment is normal and settles on its own. If discomfort lasts more than a week or two, let us know so we can check the bite.
Crown or implant, which do I need?
They solve different problems. A crown restores a damaged tooth that is still in place. An implant replaces a tooth that is gone. Sometimes a tooth that looks too far gone can still be saved with a crown, and sometimes it cannot, and an implant becomes the better path. Your doctor will tell you which is true for your tooth.
Should I get a bridge or an implant?
Both work, with different trade-offs. A bridge is faster and needs no surgery, but it involves preparing the neighboring teeth, and the bone under the gap keeps shrinking over time. An implant preserves that bone and leaves the neighbors untouched, but it costs more and takes longer to complete. We go through both at your consultation.
How much does a crown cost?
It depends on the material and the tooth. Crowns and bridges are usually classed as major work by dental plans, and coverage varies. We check your plan, give you a written estimate, and tell you what to expect before any work begins.
Can a crown get a cavity?
The crown itself cannot, but the natural tooth beneath and around it can. Decay at the edge of a crown is hard to spot at home, which is why brushing, flossing, and routine exams matter just as much after a crown as before.