A crown (sometimes called a "cap") is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared existing tooth. It is used to strengthen, restore or improve the appearance of your natural tooth.

Crowns are placed on an individual tooth much like a thimble over your finger. They serve many functions. More than strengthening a tooth, a crown often participates in the attachment of a fixed bridge, or helps a partial stay in place.

Often a crown is necessary to protect the remaining tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling. Crowns help hold together the structure of a tooth that is fractured or broken.

A dental bridge restores a space created by on or more missing teeth. It is placed onto existing teeth on either side of the empty space. This bridge acts as your new teeth, closing the gap and restoring your smile.

For decades bridges have been the gold standard for restoring gaps in a smile. While they are an effective means to do so, Implants have become an approach often preferred over bridges for many reasons.