Stage · Healthy tooth
Enamel over dentin, with the pulp inside and the root held in bone. Nothing is removed yet.
Crowns & bridges · Eagle River, AK
Dental crowns & bridges.
Restore your smile.
Explore how a crown protects a damaged tooth and how a bridge replaces a missing one, in cross-section. Step through a crown from preparation to fit, lift the bridge off its supports, and compare how much natural tooth each option keeps.
Signature experience The Restorative Studio
01 of 05 · Consultation and planning
Step through a crown: why a tooth needs one, how it is prepared, and how the final crown seals the tooth.
Stage of the crown
Stage · Why a crown
A large old filling and a crack leave thin walls that can break under chewing. Covering the whole tooth spreads the load.
Stage · Prepared
The tooth is reduced on every surface so the crown can be strong without making the tooth bigger. The pulp is preserved.
Stage · Temporary
A temporary crown protects the preparation and keeps the bite and gum stable while the final crown is made.
Stage · Crown seated
The final crown is cemented over a thin sealing layer. The margin is the fine line where crown and tooth meet.
Natural tooth
Crown and fit
Gum
Natural tooth
Enamel
The hard outer layer of the natural crown.
A crown is considered when enamel and dentin can no longer protect the tooth on their own: a large old filling, a crack, wear, or a root canal that left the tooth brittle.
Natural tooth
Dentin
The living core that a crown protects.
After preparation the dentin is sealed beneath the crown. The preparation stops well short of the pulp whenever possible.
Natural tooth
Pulp
Nerve and blood supply, preserved.
The pulp stays alive under a crown on a vital tooth. If it is already inflamed or infected, root canal treatment may be discussed before a crown.
Crown and fit
Prepared tooth
The tooth reshaped to receive a crown.
Enamel and some dentin are reduced on every surface so the crown can be as thick as it needs to be without making the tooth larger. The amount removed is decided tooth by tooth.
Crown and fit
Margin
Where crown and tooth meet.
The margin is the fine junction at the edge of the crown. It is placed where it can be kept clean; this is the line to brush and floss along every day.
Crown and fit
Cement layer
A thin film that seals the fit.
A dental cement or adhesive fills the microscopic space between the prepared tooth and the crown and seals the dentin from bacteria.
Crown and fit
Crown
The custom cap that restores shape and strength.
Made from ceramic, a metal-ceramic combination or gold, the crown restores the chewing surface, the contacts with neighbours, and the contour the gum needs.
Gum
Gum
The seal around the margin.
Healthy gum hugs the crown margin. Daily cleaning here prevents inflammation and decay at the edge of a crown.
Lift the bridge to see how it sits on two prepared teeth, then select any part.
Parts of a bridge
Conventional bridge
Supporting tooth
A natural tooth prepared to carry the bridge.
Each end of a conventional bridge rests on a neighbouring tooth that has been reduced like a crown preparation. The health and root support of these teeth decide whether a bridge is a good option.
Conventional bridge
Retainer
The crown-shaped end of the bridge.
Retainers are cemented onto the supporting teeth. They are made as one piece with the pontic, so the whole bridge is fixed in place.
Conventional bridge
Pontic
The replacement tooth with no root beneath it.
The pontic is shaped to touch the gum lightly so it looks natural and stays cleanable. Nothing anchors it in bone; it is carried entirely by the teeth on either side.
Conventional bridge
Connector
The solid joint between units.
Connectors carry chewing force from the pontic into the retainers. Their size is a balance between strength and leaving room for the gum and for cleaning.
Conventional bridge
Cleaning space
The gap beneath the pontic.
Floss cannot pass between joined units, so this space is cleaned by threading floss under the pontic or using an interdental brush. Ask the team to demonstrate.
Conventional bridge
Healed ridge
Gum and bone where the tooth was lost.
After a tooth is lost the bone slowly remodels and the ridge becomes lower and narrower. A bridge sits on top of this ridge; it does not stimulate the bone the way a root or implant does.
A conventional tooth-supported bridge is shown. Implant-supported bridges rest on implants instead of prepared teeth and are planned differently.
See how much natural tooth each restoration keeps, and how a bridge differs from an implant.
How much tooth is kept
Keeps the walls and cusps
Filling
Removes only the decay or defect and fills the space. The outer walls and cusps stay as they are.
Keeps the walls, replaces weak cusps
Onlay
Covers and replaces cusps that are too thin to trust, while the outer walls below them are left alone.
Reduces every surface
Crown
The whole tooth is reduced so a full cap can hold it together. The most protection, and the most tooth removed.
Borrows the neighbours
Bridge or implant?
A bridge replaces a missing tooth by preparing the teeth on either side and joining three units together. An implant stands on its own root in bone and leaves the neighbours untouched, but needs surgery and healing time.
Hatched areas show tooth structure that is removed. The right choice depends on how much healthy tooth remains, the bite and the nerve, which only an examination can assess.
Follow a crown from consultation to long-term care.
Stage 01
Consultation and planning
The tooth is examined and imaged. The team checks the nerve, the remaining tooth structure, the bite and the gum, and discusses whether a crown, an onlay or another option fits.
A question to bring“What is the condition of the nerve, and is a crown the most conservative option for this tooth?”
Stage 02
Preparation
The tooth is numbed and reshaped on every surface. Old filling material and decay are removed first, and missing structure may be rebuilt with a core. An impression or digital scan records the preparation.
A question to bring“Will my tooth need a build-up, and where will the margin sit?”
Stage 03
Temporary crown
A temporary crown protects the prepared tooth and keeps the bite and the gum stable while the final crown is made.
A question to bring“What should I avoid eating with the temporary, and what do I do if it comes off?”
Stage 04
Fit and cementation
The final crown is tried in. Contacts with the neighbours, the margin and the bite are checked and adjusted before it is cemented or bonded.
A question to bring“Will my crown be cemented or bonded, and how will you check the bite?”
Stage 05
Long-term care
Brush and floss along the margin every day, keep regular reviews, and mention any sensitivity, roughness or a change in the bite.
A question to bring“How should I floss around this crown, and what signs should I report?”
The number of visits, the materials and the timing vary by tooth and by plan. Your dentist will explain your individual sequence.
Illustrations are conceptual and not to scale. They do not show your anatomy, a specific restoration design or a treatment plan, and they are pending clinical review. An examination is needed to discuss suitability, risks, costs and alternatives.
Compare the purpose
Crown or bridge?
See the key differences.
| Feature | Dental crown | Conventional bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Restore an existing tooth | Replace missing teeth |
| What supports it? | Prepared natural tooth or implant | Adjacent supporting teeth |
| Replaces a missing tooth? | Not by itself on a natural tooth | Yes |
| Maintenance focus | Clean around crown margins | Clean retainers and beneath the pontic |
Different purposes. Individual plans.
A crown covers an existing prepared tooth. A conventional bridge includes a replacement tooth, called a pontic, joined to retainers on suitable supporting teeth.
The support matters.
The illustration shows natural-tooth support. An implant crown rests on an implant connection instead. Implant-supported bridges are a separate design; they do not use natural teeth as their supports.
Look at the space being restored.
A crown on a natural tooth restores that tooth. A bridge spans a missing-tooth space. A crown can also complete an implant restoration, which is a different treatment plan.
Care continues after placement.
Both restorations need daily cleaning and professional review. A bridge also needs an appropriate way to clean beneath its replacement tooth. Ask the team to demonstrate the technique for your restoration.
Schematic anatomy · clinical review pending. The bridge shown uses natural-tooth supports.
Care beneath the surface
How do I clean
under a bridge?
Explore the general cleaning path, then ask the team to demonstrate the technique for your own restoration.
Schematic educational demonstration · clinical review pending
Ready · 4 stages
Stage 01 / 04
Prepare the cleaning tool
Your dental team can recommend a floss threader or another appropriate device for the design of your bridge. Ask for a personal demonstration before trying an unfamiliar technique.
Stage 02 / 04
Guide it beneath the bridge
A threader can help guide floss through the space beneath a pontic. The schematic shows a possible cleaning path, not a universal route. Do not force a tool into an area where it does not fit.
Stage 03 / 04
Clean supporting areas
Clean around supporting teeth and retainers as demonstrated by the dental team. The illustrated curve shows the concept of adapting floss to a supporting surface; avoid snapping it into the gums.
Stage 04 / 04
Maintain the routine
Clean the restoration as instructed and attend the follow-up visits recommended for you. Ask the team about difficult-to-reach areas, irritation, or a change in how the bridge feels.
Tool choice and technique depend on the restoration. Do not force floss or scrape the gums. This animation is not a substitute for an individual demonstration.
Helpful answers
Common questions
about crowns & bridges.
General education to support a conversation with your dental team.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
Longevity varies with the restoration, supporting teeth or implants, bite, daily care, and oral health. Regular reviews help the team assess wear, fit, and supporting tissues. No fixed lifespan can be promised.
Will a crown or bridge look natural?
Shape, shade, and material can be selected with your smile and treatment needs in mind. The team will discuss the appearance you hope for and the limitations of your individual situation; results vary.
Is getting a crown uncomfortable?
Tell the team about sensitivity, previous experiences, and any anxiety. They can explain the planned steps and discuss appropriate comfort options. Sensations and recovery vary, and no treatment can be promised to feel the same for everyone.
Can a bridge be supported by implants?
Yes. Some bridges are designed to be supported by implants instead of natural teeth. This is different from the conventional tooth-supported bridge illustrated here. A clinical evaluation is needed to discuss appropriate options.
How do I care for a crown or bridge?
Clean your teeth and restoration daily with the tools and technique recommended by your dental team. A bridge requires attention beneath its replacement tooth as well as around the supports. Attend professional reviews at the interval recommended for you.
What are alternatives to a bridge?
Depending on the missing-tooth space and your oral health, options to discuss may include an implant-supported restoration or a removable partial denture. A consultation helps you understand the considerations for each; one option is not universally best.
What happens if an existing crown breaks?
Contact the practice for an assessment. Whether a restoration can be repaired or needs replacement depends on the damage and the condition of the tooth or other support. Do not try to repair it yourself with household glue.
How much do crowns and bridges cost?
Cost depends on the restoration, materials, supporting care, and your individual treatment plan. Ask the practice for a written estimate and an explanation of any benefits or payment options before proceeding.
Real people. Thoughtful care.
Let’s talk about
your smile.
Our team will help you explore your options and find the right solution for your needs.
Planning your care · Payment options
A thoughtful plan includes the cost.
The number of teeth and type of restoration affect the cost of care. Ask our team for a treatment estimate and about insurance, direct payment, or Cherry financing.
Financing is subject to eligibility and current terms. No application or payment information is collected on this website.
Let’s restore your smile
A stronger, healthier smile
is within reach.
Call us or request a visit — we’re here to help you explore your options.