What is the Difference Between a Crown and a Bridge?

Dr. Milligan of Eastland Dental Center in Bloomington has been providing high quality crowns and bridges for over 25 years. He knows the best treatment options available for each specific patient need, and is able to decide when it is best to utilize crowns and bridges for his patients. While these are both restorative treatments, many wonder what the difference is between a crown and a bridge.

A crown is a laboratory-fabricated restoration that is used to cover and protect the top of a tooth. It is like a thimble over your finger, and holds a weakened tooth together, sealing out the bad bacteria. Typically they are used on teeth near the back of the mouth in order to protect a tooth from cracking, breaking, or chipping. They are used to cover and protect teeth that have received extensive fillings, such as teeth that have recently undergone root canal therapy. This is due to the fact that teeth that receive root canals have their blood supply removed, essentially making the tooth more brittle and susceptible to cracks and chips. Crowns can be made out of a variety of materials, and Dr. Milligan can discuss your options when you come into his office.

Bridges are most often used as a way to replace missing teeth. Bridges can be used to address a gap caused by a missing tooth from trauma, disease, or extraction. Bridges are essentially two crowns bonded to a false tooth. The crowns are placed on the adjacent teeth in order to support the false tooth in its place between the two crowns. Alternative options include dental implants and removable partial dentures.

Bridges and crowns are two commonly used restorations in cosmetic dentistry, and Dr. Milligan at Bloomington’s Eastland Dental Center has years of experience and expertise in creating and placing them. Consider calling Dr. Milligan for your next dental appointment to find out ways he can not only protect your teeth, but improve your smile!