Fixed Solutions – Crowns and Bridges
Fixed dental prosthetics — crowns and bridges — provide permanent, non-removable solutions for restoring damaged teeth or replacing missing ones. Unlike removable dentures, fixed restorations are cemented or screwed permanently in place and function just like natural teeth.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown (cap) covers the entire visible surface of a tooth above the gum line. It is indicated when:
- A tooth is too damaged by decay or fracture to be reliably restored with a filling
- A tooth has been root-treated and needs protection from fracture
- A tooth is used as the support for a fixed bridge
- A tooth requires significant aesthetic improvement that veneers cannot provide
- As the final restoration component on a dental implant
Modern crowns are fabricated from high-performance ceramics — zirconia or lithium disilicate — that are strong, biocompatible, and aesthetically excellent. At Smilecraft, crown shade and shape are matched to the patient's individual dentition with the help of dental photography and close laboratory communication.
Dental Bridges
A fixed bridge replaces a missing tooth (or multiple adjacent missing teeth) by suspending an artificial tooth (pontic) between two crowns placed on the teeth on either side of the gap. The result is a non-removable restoration that restores chewing function, prevents adjacent teeth from drifting, and maintains facial appearance.
The preparation for a bridge requires the reduction of the adjacent abutment teeth to accommodate the crowns. This is an irreversible procedure — an important consideration, as implant treatment preserves the adjacent teeth entirely.
Bridge vs Implant
For most single-tooth replacements, a dental implant is now preferred over a bridge because it preserves adjacent tooth structure, maintains bone volume, and typically has a longer lifespan. However, bridges remain appropriate in certain clinical situations — for example, when the adjacent teeth already require crowning, or when implant surgery is not feasible.
At Smilecraft, we guide every patient toward the solution that best serves their long-term health and aesthetic goals.
