The DentalBrace
Clinic & Implant Centre
Treatment Snapshot
Dental crowns act as protective caps for damaged teeth, while dental bridges replace missing teeth by anchoring an artificial tooth to the adjacent natural teeth.
Why Patients Choose This
- • Zirconia crowns restore 100% of the strength of a severely weakened or root-canal-treated tooth.
- • Dental bridges offer a fixed, non-surgical alternative to dental implants for replacing missing teeth.
- • Modern ceramic crowns are indistinguishable from natural teeth.
When To Consider Alternatives
A dental bridge is not ideal if the adjacent anchoring teeth are perfectly healthy, as they must be permanently ground down to support the bridge.
Post-Treatment Maintenance
Dental bridges require the use of super-floss or a water flosser to clean beneath the artificial pontic tooth.
What is Dental Crowns & Bridges?
Dental crowns and bridges are fixed prosthetic devices cemented onto existing teeth or implants. A crown (often called a "cap") is used to entirely cover or "cap" a damaged, severely decayed, or root-canal-treated tooth. It restores the tooth's shape, size, strength, and aesthetic appearance, protecting the fragile structure underneath. A bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth by spanning the empty space. It consists of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap (the anchoring teeth) with a false tooth (pontic) fused in between. At The DentalBrace Clinic, we specialize in high-strength, metal-free Zirconia and E-max ceramics. Unlike older porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns, our modern ceramics will never show a dark gray line at the gums and offer unparalleled natural translucency. Using our 3D scanning and CAD/CAM technology, your crowns are digitally designed for a microscopic fit, meaning no food impaction, no gum inflammation, and a restoration that functions flawlessly for over a decade.
Signs You Need This Treatment
- ✓ A tooth weakened by a large cavity or fracture
- ✓ A tooth that has undergone a root canal
- ✓ One or more missing teeth
- ✓ Severely discolored or misshapen teeth
- ✓ Difficulty chewing due to a gap
Possible Limitations
- A bridge requires grinding down the healthy adjacent teeth
- Bridges do not prevent bone loss in the area of the missing tooth (unlike implants)
Ideal Candidate
Patients needing to restore structural integrity to a damaged tooth, or patients missing 1-2 teeth who are not candidates for dental implants.
Not Recommended For
A bridge is not ideal if the adjacent anchoring teeth are perfectly healthy (a dental implant is a better choice to avoid grinding down healthy teeth).
Key Benefits
- Restores 100% chewing function and prevents further tooth breakage
- Zirconia offers extreme durability and lifelike aesthetics
- Bridges prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position
- Fixed securely in the mouth (unlike removable dentures)
Step-by-Step Process
Tooth Preparation
Under local anesthesia, the tooth is reshaped to make room for the crown. If doing a bridge, the teeth on both sides of the gap are prepared.
3D Digital Impression
A quick, comfortable 3D scan is taken (no messy putty). The data is sent to the CAD/CAM lab.
Temporary Crown
A temporary acrylic crown/bridge is placed to protect your teeth while the permanent one is being made.
Lab Fabrication
Your permanent Zirconia crown is precision-milled and hand-stained for a perfect color match.
Final Cementation
The temporary is removed, and the final crown is permanently bonded with high-strength resin cement.
Recovery & Expectations
Timeline: You will wear a temporary acrylic crown between appointments. After the final crown is cemented, you may experience mild sensitivity to cold for 2-3 days.
Success Factors: Using a water flosser and interdental brushes to clean under a bridge, Avoiding biting down on hard objects like ice or hard candies
When to Consult: If you have a broken tooth, a large failing filling, or if you have just completed a root canal treatment, you must get a crown immediately to prevent the tooth from splitting.
Appointments: Typically 2 appointments: Preparation/Scan and Final Cementation.
If you are missing a single tooth, I almost always recommend a dental implant over a bridge. Why grind down two perfectly healthy teeth just to replace one? However, if the adjacent teeth already have huge fillings or need crowns anyway, a bridge is an excellent, cost-effective solution.
Cost & Financing
*Final cost depends on clinical complexity determined during consultation.
- Cash
- UPI
- All Major Cards
- EMI Options
Clinical Outlook & Risks
- • Standard surgical/clinical risks apply. Discussed during consultation.
All medical procedures carry inherent risks. We utilize digital planning to minimize these, but patient compliance is mandatory for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Zirconia and PFM crowns?
PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) crowns have a metal core, which can look opaque and eventually show a black line at the gums. Zirconia is 100% metal-free, extremely strong, and highly aesthetic.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
With good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, a high-quality Zirconia crown or bridge can easily last 10 to 15 years, or even a lifetime.
Does getting a crown hurt?
Not at all. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. You will not feel any pain while the tooth is being prepared.
How do I clean underneath a dental bridge?
Because the teeth are fused together, you cannot use standard string floss. You must use a water flosser or specialized "Super Floss" to thread underneath the false tooth.
Appointment & Treatment Logistics
Same-day tooth preparation and temporary crown placement.
2 visits (Preparation & Impression, followed by Final Cementation).
Bite adjustment if necessary within the first week.
Explore Related Care
Conditions Treated
Common Problems We Solve
- • Broken or severely decayed tooth
- • Missing a single tooth between two healthy teeth
- • Tooth feels weak after a root canal
Related Treatments
Treating Specialist
Prosthodontist & Implantologist
Clinical Technology
- iTero 3D Scanner
- CAD/CAM Milling
- Monolithic Zirconia
- E-max Lithium Disilicate