A crown and a bridge get confused for each other often, but they solve different problems — one protects a tooth that's still there, the other replaces one that isn't.
Crowns: capping a damaged tooth
A crown is a cap that fits over a tooth that's been weakened by a large filling, a crack, or a root canal. Once a tooth loses enough of its original structure, it's more likely to fracture under normal biting force — a crown restores its strength and shape without removing it. We typically recommend one when a filling would be too large to hold up reliably on its own.
Bridges: replacing a missing tooth
A bridge fills the gap left by a missing tooth, anchored to the healthy teeth on either side of it (or, increasingly, to an implant instead of natural teeth). Left unaddressed, a gap tends to let neighbouring teeth drift out of position over time, which can affect your bite. A bridge holds that spacing in place while restoring the ability to chew normally on that side.
How long they last
Both are built to last many years with normal care, though how long depends heavily on oral hygiene around the edges — that's where decay or gum issues tend to start if flossing is skipped.
- Crown: protects a single, still-present tooth.
- Bridge: replaces one or more missing teeth using neighbouring support.
- Both need normal brushing and flossing, plus regular check-ups, to hold up long-term.
If a tooth is cracked, heavily filled, or missing altogether, that's the conversation to have with us before deciding between a crown, a bridge, or an implant.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Ask Dr. Nihar what applies to your mouth specifically.