Crowns and Bridges
Enhance your smile & restore function
Our natural-looking, long-lasting tooth repair solution can restore your smile’s aesthetics and functionality.
Crowns and Bridges
Enhance your smile & restore function
Basic tasks should not be difficult. Eating, speaking, or even smiling becomes such a challenge when you live with damaged, worn, or missing teeth. But here’s news you can use: many people restore comfort, function, and aesthetics with dental crowns and bridges. You owe it to yourself to explore this reliable, natural-looking solution.
Custom crowns and bridges are designed to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. Using modern techniques and durable materials, Healthy Smile Dental helps you protect your oral health while bringing strength, balance, and a natural look back to your smile.
What are dental crowns?
A crown is a custom suit of armour for a significantly compromised tooth. These custom-made “caps” cover and protect damaged teeth so you can enjoy life. Crowns are used when a tooth has been weakened by decay, cracks, or trauma, or when it has undergone root canal treatment. By encasing the visible portion of the tooth above the gumline, a crown restores its natural shape, size, strength, and appearance. Each one is carefully colour-matched and contoured to blend with your smile, making crowns both protective and natural-looking.
What are dental bridges?
A dental bridge fills the gap left by missing teeth, restoring strength and balance to your bite. It consists of an artificial tooth (or teeth) anchored by crowns on the healthy teeth beside the space. This structure brings back proper chewing function, keeps your bite aligned, and blends seamlessly with your natural smile.
What are dental crowns and bridges made of?
Crowns and bridges can be made from a range of durable, bio-safe materials. The ideal choice depends on factors such as the location of the tooth, the amount of bite force in that area, and your personal preferences.
Materials often used include:
Gold alloy: Extremely strong and long-lasting, though usually reserved for back teeth where appearance is less critical.
Porcelain: Tooth-coloured material that blends naturally with surrounding teeth, ideal for visible areas.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM): Combines the strength of a metal base (often a gold alloy) with a porcelain coating for a natural look.
Zirconia: A highly durable, tooth-coloured ceramic that offers both strength and excellent aesthetics, making it a popular modern choice.
Your smile’s in expert hands at Health Smile Dental. Our experienced dentists will recommend the most suitable option based on your individual needs, balancing strength, durability, and appearance.
Who needs dental crowns & bridges?
A wide range of dental needs can be addressed by versatile, long-lasting crowns and bridges.
They could be right for you if you have:
Damaged or weakened teeth – from decay, cracks, or large fillings that compromise strength.
Missing teeth – bridges can replace one or several teeth in a row.
Shifting or misaligned teeth – filling gaps with a bridge helps maintain correct spacing and bite alignment.
Root canal–treated teeth – crowns are often recommended to protect and restore teeth after this procedure.
Difficulty chewing or biting – crowns and bridges restore proper function so you can eat comfortably.
Cosmetic concerns – crowns can also improve the appearance of discoloured, misshapen, or uneven teeth.
We carefully assess your oral health, tooth structure, and long-term needs to ensure crowns or bridges are the best solution for lasting protection and confidence.
Crowns & bridges in three steps
Getting a crown or bridge usually takes three visits from start to finish. In more complex cases, your dentist may recommend referral to a prosthodontist—a specialist in restoring teeth and bites. However, for most patients the process is straightforward and completed as follows:
1. Examination and planning
Your dentist will begin with a thorough assessment, which may include X-rays. An initial impression of your teeth is taken to create moulds, helping us plan your custom restoration.
2. Tooth preparation
The affected tooth or teeth are carefully cleaned and shaped to make room for the crown or bridge. This stage may include:
- Building up the inner tooth structure, if needed for support.
- Reshaping the tooth/teeth to the ideal size and contour.
- Taking a second, highly accurate impression.
- Placing a temporary, colour-matched crown or bridge to protect your teeth while the final restoration is made.
3. Fitting the final restoration
At your final visit, the temporary crown or bridge is removed and your permanent restoration is securely bonded in place. Your dentist will make small adjustments to ensure a comfortable bite and a natural look.
Why go with crowns and bridges?
Durable solution – Crowns and bridges can last many years with proper care.
Natural appearance – Made to match the colour and shape of your existing teeth.
Restores function – Allows you to chew, bite, and speak more comfortably.
Protects teeth – Shields weakened or treated teeth from further damage.
Maintains alignment – Prevents neighbouring teeth from drifting into gaps.
Points to consider
Tooth reshaping – Supporting teeth must be prepared to fit a crown or hold a bridge.
Temporary sensitivity – Some mild tooth or gum sensitivity may occur after placement.
Future replacement – Restorations may wear or loosen over time and need replacement.
Decay or gum issues – Poor oral hygiene can lead to problems under or around the restoration.
Case limitations – Not always recommended for complex cases where other options, like implants, may be better.
Frequently asked questions
How long do crowns and bridges last?
Crowns and bridges are designed to be long-lasting. On average, they can last 5–10 years, but with excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits, many last even longer. Their lifespan depends on factors such as the material used, your bite, and habits like teeth grinding.
Do crowns or bridges look natural?
Yes. Modern restorations are crafted from tooth-coloured materials such as porcelain or zirconia, which closely mimic the shade and translucency of natural teeth. This makes them virtually indistinguishable from your surrounding teeth.
Will the procedure be painful?
The procedure itself is not painful. Local anaesthesia keeps you comfortable while your tooth is prepared and the crown or bridge is fitted. Some patients may experience mild sensitivity or tenderness for a short period afterward, but this usually improves quickly.
How do I care for crowns and bridges?
Caring for your dental restoration is much like caring for natural teeth—brush twice daily, floss daily, and use floss threaders or interdental brushes to clean around and under bridges. Routine dental check-ups and professional cleanings are important to maintain their condition and the health of supporting teeth and gums.
Is a crown the same as a veneer?
No. A crown covers the entire tooth, strengthening it and restoring function after damage, decay, or root canal treatment. A veneer, on the other hand, is a thin layer bonded only to the front surface of a tooth, mainly to improve its colour, shape, or appearance.
Are there alternatives to bridges?
Yes. Dental implants are often recommended as an alternative for replacing missing teeth, as they don’t rely on neighbouring teeth for support. In some cases, removable partial dentures may also be considered. Your dentist will explain which option best suits your needs.
Which is cheaper, a crown or a bridge?
A single crown generally costs less than a dental bridge because a bridge replaces multiple teeth and requires more complex work. However, costs can vary depending on the materials used, the number of teeth involved, and your specific treatment plan.
Are crowns and bridges permanent?
They are considered fixed restorations, meaning they are not removable like dentures. However, they are not lifetime solutions. Over time, normal wear, changes in your bite, or issues with the supporting teeth may require replacement or repair.
Get your life back by restoring your smile
Living with a damaged or missing tooth can make everyday things—eating, speaking, even smiling—harder than they should be. Crowns and bridges are proven solutions that restore strength, comfort, and confidence, so you can get back to enjoying life without holding back your smile.
Book your cosmetic consultation with one of our experienced dentists at Healthy Smile Dental today—and let us help you feel like yourself again.
