Crowns & bridges
Dental crowns and bridges in Miami
A crown restores a tooth that's cracked, weakened or heavily filled; a bridge replaces a missing tooth by anchoring to the teeth beside it. At Perla, both are made with our in-house ceramist to match the shape and color of your own teeth.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rodolfo Rodriguez, DMD · Updated
What a crown does
A crown covers the whole visible part of a tooth, holding it together and protecting it from breaking further. It's the usual answer for a tooth that is cracked, worn down, weakened by a large filling, or treated with a root canal, and it can also improve the shape or color of a tooth that bothers you.
When you might need one
- A cracked or broken tooth
- A large old filling that's failing, or that leaves little tooth behind
- A back tooth after a root canal
- A badly worn or discolored tooth
- On top of a dental implant
What a bridge does
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with a false tooth held between crowns on the neighboring teeth. It's fixed in place — you don't take it out. A bridge can also be anchored on implants instead of natural teeth.
Because a traditional bridge relies on the teeth on either side, those teeth are shaped for crowns. When they're healthy and untouched, an implant is often the more conservative choice. We'll explain both, and options for replacing missing teeth compares them.
How it works
Preparing the tooth
Under local anesthesia, the tooth is shaped to make room for the crown and any decay is removed. We take records of the tooth and your bite, and match the shade of your teeth.
Your temporary
You wear a temporary crown or bridge while the final one is made. It protects the tooth; avoid sticky and hard foods on that side.
Made with our ceramist
Your crown is made with our in-house ceramist, who matches its shape, translucency and color to your neighboring teeth.
Fitting
At your second visit we check the fit, the color and your bite, then cement the crown or bridge in place.
Materials
Most crowns today are all-ceramic — porcelain or zirconia — which look natural and are strong enough for back teeth. Dr. Rodriguez recommends the material that suits the tooth, your bite and how much it shows when you smile.
Caring for crowns and bridges
Brush and floss as usual, and clean under a bridge with a floss threader or a water flosser. A crown can't decay, but the tooth underneath can, at the edge where the two meet — so keep your regular cleanings. If you grind your teeth, a night guard protects your crowns.
Cost and insurance
Many dental plans pay part of the cost of crowns and bridges. We're currently out of network and submit claims as a courtesy; without insurance, our membership plan includes member savings on treatment. See Insurance & membership.
FAQs
How long does a crown last?
Does getting a crown hurt?
Can I get a crown in one day?
Do I need a crown or a filling?
Should I get a bridge or an implant?
Terms
- Crown
- A cap that covers the whole visible part of a tooth.
- Bridge
- A fixed replacement for a missing tooth, held by crowns on the teeth beside the gap.
- Abutment tooth
- A tooth that holds one end of a bridge.
- Pontic
- The false tooth in a bridge.
- Zirconia
- A strong, tooth-colored ceramic used for crowns and bridges.
- Temporary crown
- A crown worn for a short time while the final one is made.
- Cement
- The material that bonds a crown or bridge in place.
Related
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