Crowns and Bridgework
Crowns & Bridgework at
Lanham Family Dentistry
Restore the strength, function, and aesthetics of your smile. Whether you need to repair a damaged tooth with a custom crown or replace missing teeth with a bridge, we provide durable, natural-looking solutions.
Request an Appointment →Dental Crowns
Think of a dental crown as a custom "cap" that fits snugly over a modified tooth. Crowns are ideal for restoring broken teeth, protecting a tooth after a root canal, reinforcing weak teeth, or covering a dental implant.
Porcelain & Zirconia
These crowns are highly aesthetic and perfectly shade-matched to seamlessly blend with your surrounding natural teeth. They are the ideal choice for visible front teeth.
Gold & Metal Alloys
While less aesthetic, all-metal or gold crowns provide maximum durability and strength. They are an excellent, long-lasting option for out-of-sight back molars that endure heavy chewing forces.
Same-Day Crowns
Completed in just one visit. We remove decay, digitally scan your bite, and design, mill, and cement your permanent crown—all without the need for goopy impressions or a temporary crown.
Lab-Crafted Crowns
Takes two visits. At the first visit, we take impressions and place a temporary crown. The final crown is hand-crafted at a dental lab for highly specific structural or aesthetic needs.
Dental Bridgework
A dental bridge is a fixed appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth. It relies on the strength and stability of the healthy teeth adjacent to the gap to restore your chewing function and aesthetics.
Traditional Bridge
The most common type. It involves reshaping the healthy teeth on either side of the gap and placing crowns on them to hold the artificial tooth (pontic) securely in place.
Implant-Supported Bridge
Ideal when multiple teeth are missing. Instead of relying on natural teeth, this bridge is anchored entirely by dental implants placed in the jawbone.
Maryland Bridge
A more conservative option that uses metal or porcelain "wings" bonded to the back of adjacent teeth, rather than requiring full crowns on the supporting teeth.
Cantilever Bridge
Used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth. It is anchored to a single supporting tooth.
Bridgework vs. Other Options
Not sure which tooth replacement option is right for you? Here is how dental bridges compare to implants and partial dentures.
Stays permanently in the mouth. Generally less expensive than implants. Requires altering the healthy adjacent teeth to support the bridge. If a supporting tooth fails, the whole bridge is affected.
Stays permanently in the mouth. Requires minor surgical placement. Preserves adjacent teeth (no drilling required). Often lasts a lifetime. If an issue occurs, it generally only affects the single implant.
Removable appliance. Must be taken out to clean. Relies on the stability of surrounding teeth to clip into place. Generally the most cost-effective option and can replace many teeth at once.
| Treatment Option | Key Characteristics | Impact on Other Teeth |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Bridge | Fixed in the mouth. Generally less expensive than implants. | Requires drilling/shaping of the adjacent healthy teeth. If an adjacent tooth gets decay, the whole bridge is affected. |
| Dental Implant | Fixed in the mouth. Surgical placement required. Longest lasting option. | Zero impact. Does not require altering adjacent teeth. Issues are isolated to the single implant site. |
| Partial Denture | Removable appliance. Can replace multiple teeth across the arch. Most affordable. | Clasps onto surrounding teeth for support. Must be removed daily for cleaning. |
Caring for Your Restoration
On average, crowns and bridges last 5 to 15 years—sometimes much longer! Their lifespan depends heavily on your habits and daily maintenance.
Strict Oral Hygiene
A crown won't decay, but the tooth underneath it can! Brush twice daily, and use specialized tools like floss threaders or interproximal brushes to clean underneath bridges.
Watch What You Eat
To prevent premature wear or dislodging, avoid sticky foods (like toffee or caramel) and do not bite down on hard objects like ice or hard candies.
Break Bad Habits
Heavy clenching and grinding can crack a crown or bridge. Additionally, avoid using your teeth as tools to open bottles or bite your nails.
Routine Dental Visits
See your hygienist regularly. We will check the margins of your restorations to catch and address any minor issues before they become major problems.