Crowns And Bridges

• What is the difference between a “crown” and a “cap”?
• What are dental bridges?
• What are the types of bridges?
• What’s the difference between a “bridge” and a “partial denture”?
• Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?

Crown and Bridges

Q: What’s the difference between a "crown" and a "cap"?
A: These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".

Q: What are dental bridges?
A: Dental bridges are false tooth. It is also known as single-piece multiple unit fixed partial denture. It is recommended by the dentist if tooth has been extracted due to decay or has been broken in an accident. Then, the gap constructed is bridged using dental bridge.

Dental bridges are used to replace missing teeth in a patient’s mouth. A dental bridge involves two crowns and a false tooth "bridged" between them. The crowns on the adjacent teeth are use to give strength to the new tooth. The teeth used to support the bridge are called abutment.

Q: What are the types of bridges?
A: There are three types of dental bridges. According to the condition of patient’s teeth, a bridge can be chosen.

• Maryland Bridge: In this type, the false teeth are supported by small metal wings. This is very appropriate if the front teeth are missing.
• Fixed Bridge: In this type of bridging, the false tooth is supported by creating two crowns for the adjacent teeth on both sides of the false tooth. Dental implants can also be used to fix the dental bridges.
• Cantilever bridge: In this case the false tooth is supported by creating a crown for only one of the adjacent tooth.

Q: What’s the difference between a "bridge" and a "partial denture"?
A: Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.

Q: Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?
A: No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.

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