Crowns and Bridgework in Tallahassee, FL

Your smile is more than just a set of teeth — it’s a functional system and a visible reflection of your overall health and well-being. When a tooth is weakened by decay, fracture, or a large filling, a dental crown can restore strength, protect the remaining structure, and recreate a natural appearance that blends seamlessly with your smile.

At the office of Brittney K. Craig, DMD, we specialize in durable, life-like restorations designed to meet both functional and aesthetic goals. Below, you’ll find detailed information on when crowns are recommended, how they are crafted and placed, the materials available, and tips to ensure your crowns last for many years.

When a crown is the right choice

Crowns are typically recommended when a tooth’s remaining structure is too compromised to support a simple filling. Common reasons include extensive decay, a failing large restoration, cracks that threaten tooth integrity, or a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy. The goal is to fully cover and protect the remaining tooth so it continues to function normally.

Crowns also serve broader purposes. They can act as anchors for bridges, cover dental implants, or enhance the appearance of teeth with severe discoloration or misshaping when conservative treatments aren’t enough. Your dentist evaluates the tooth’s structure, the forces it will endure during chewing, and its visibility in your smile before recommending the ideal crown.

Decision-making combines professional assessment and your personal priorities. If a repair is likely to fail under chewing or grinding pressures, a crown often provides the most predictable, long-term solution to preserve oral health and prevent further complications.

What to expect during treatment

Preparing a tooth for a crown usually takes two visits. During the first appointment, the tooth is shaped to make room for the crown, any decayed or unstable areas are removed, and the tooth may be built up to create a solid foundation. A precise impression or digital scan captures the tooth’s shape and bite alignment, guiding the fabrication of a crown that fits comfortably and functions properly.

A temporary crown protects the tooth while the permanent restoration is being made. Modern temporary crowns maintain both appearance and function during this period. At the second visit, the permanent crown is checked for fit, color, and bite alignment before being cemented in place. Minor adjustments ensure comfort and optimal chewing efficiency.

Advances in digital scanning, same-day milling, and improved materials have shortened timelines and enhanced outcomes. Each case is personalized to achieve the best result for the tooth and your overall bite.

Choosing the right crown material

Crowns come in various materials, each suited to different needs. All-ceramic crowns provide excellent color matching and translucency, making them ideal for front teeth. Metal-ceramic crowns combine a strong metal base with a tooth-colored exterior, offering a balance of strength and aesthetics.

High-strength ceramics and zirconia offer exceptional durability for molars and areas under heavy chewing pressure while maintaining a natural look. Monolithic zirconia crowns are especially reliable for back teeth requiring maximum strength. Your dentist will review trade-offs such as strength vs. translucency, wear on opposing teeth, and long-term aesthetics to help you make an informed choice.

Shade, translucency, and surface texture are all considered to create a natural-looking result. Sharing your smile goals and examples of desired outcomes allows the dental team to craft a crown that harmonizes with your face, lip line, and neighboring teeth.

Bridgework: restoring multiple teeth

When one or more teeth are missing, crowns can be combined into a bridge to restore both function and appearance. A dental bridge uses one or more crowns on healthy adjacent teeth (abutments) to support artificial teeth (pontics) that fill the gap. This helps maintain proper bite alignment, prevents surrounding teeth from shifting, and restores a natural, complete smile.

The process for bridge placement is similar to single crowns. The abutment teeth are prepared, impressions are taken, and a temporary bridge protects the area while the permanent restoration is made. Once in place, bridges are evaluated for fit, bite alignment, and aesthetics, ensuring a comfortable and functional result.

Bridges are not only cosmetic but also crucial for oral health. By filling gaps, they preserve the integrity of the jaw, support proper chewing, and reduce stress on neighboring teeth. With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, bridges can last many years and provide a stable solution for missing teeth.

Restoring function and protecting oral health

Beyond enhancing appearance, crowns restore chewing efficiency and protect teeth from further damage. A properly fitted crown distributes biting forces evenly across the restored tooth and surrounding teeth, reducing the risk of fractures. Crowns also seal underlying restorations or root-filled teeth from bacterial infiltration, preserving the remaining tooth and preventing decay.

Crowns are both restorative and preventive. Encasing a weakened tooth minimizes micro-movement of cracked enamel, reduces sensitivity, and lowers the likelihood of emergency dental visits. Timely placement can transform a vulnerable tooth into a stable, long-term member of your smile.

When part of multi-tooth treatments, such as bridges or implant restorations, crowns are essential for restoring chewing function, speech, and facial contours that may be affected by missing or damaged teeth.

Caring for your crowns and bridges

Caring for a crown or bridge is similar to caring for natural teeth: brush twice daily with a soft-bristled brush, floss daily, and maintain regular dental visits. Special attention should be given to the margins where the restoration meets natural teeth, as plaque accumulation can cause decay. Your dental hygienist will focus on these areas during preventive appointments.

Habits that put excessive stress on teeth, such as grinding, clenching, or using teeth as tools, can damage crowns and bridges. Nightguards or behavioral adjustments may be recommended to protect your restorations. If a crown or bridge chip or feels loose, prompt evaluation can prevent more extensive dental work.

With proper care and regular monitoring, crowns and bridges can last many years, maintaining both function and appearance. Routine assessments ensure restorations remain well-fitted, surrounding gums stay healthy, and your smile remains strong and complete.

In summary, dental crowns and bridges are versatile, proven solutions for restoring damaged or missing teeth, protecting vulnerable structure, and creating natural-looking results. If you have questions about whether a crown or bridge is right for you, or wish to discuss materials and aesthetic options, contact us today. We’re here to help you make informed choices for a strong, healthy, and beautiful smile.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are dental crowns and how do they work?

A dental crown is a custom-made restoration that fully covers a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, strength, and function. Crowns are fabricated to match the size and contour of the natural tooth so they blend with neighboring teeth and maintain proper bite relationships. By encasing the remaining tooth structure, a crown helps prevent further fracture, protects underlying restorations, and can reduce sensitivity associated with exposed dentin.

Crowns transmit chewing forces across the restored tooth and distribute pressure to adjacent teeth in a controlled way, which reduces the risk of additional damage. They can also be used to improve appearance by correcting shape, color, or alignment issues that conservative treatments cannot address. In many restorative plans, crowns serve as abutments for bridges or as the visible portion of an implant restoration.

When is a crown recommended instead of a filling?

A crown is typically recommended when the remaining tooth structure is insufficient to support a durable filling, such as after extensive decay, a large failing restoration, or a significant fracture. If a tooth has lost substantial enamel and dentin, a filling may not restore proper form or withstand chewing forces, making a crown the more predictable long-term choice. Your dentist will evaluate the extent of structural loss, the tooth's role in your bite, and whether a filling would be at high risk of recurrent failure.

Teeth that have had root canal therapy are also common candidates for crowns because endodontically treated teeth can become more brittle and require full coverage protection. Crowns are likewise chosen when esthetic masking is needed for severe discoloration or when a tooth must serve as support for bridgework. The decision balances functional requirements and patient priorities to preserve oral health and avoid emergency situations.

What materials are crowns made from and how do I choose?

Crowns are available in several material families, each offering different strengths and aesthetic qualities. All-ceramic crowns provide excellent color matching and translucency that closely mimic natural enamel, making them a common choice for front teeth; metal-ceramic crowns combine a strong metal substructure with a tooth-colored surface for a balance of durability and appearance. High-strength ceramics such as zirconia are used where durability is critical, particularly for posterior teeth under heavy chewing forces.

Choosing a material depends on the tooth's location, chewing demands, the desired appearance, and how the restoration will interact with opposing teeth. Your dentist will discuss trade-offs such as translucency versus strength, wear characteristics, and long-term appearance to help you select an appropriate option. Shade matching and surface texture are also part of the planning process to ensure the crown integrates naturally with your smile.

What should I expect during crown preparation and placement?

Crown treatment commonly involves two visits: preparation and final placement, though some practices offer same-day milling that completes the restoration in a single appointment. During the preparation visit the tooth is shaped to create space for the crown, any decay or unstable material is removed, and a build-up may be placed to establish a solid foundation; an impression or digital scan captures the tooth and bite relationship. A temporary crown protects the prepared tooth while the laboratory or milling unit fabricates the final restoration.

At the placement visit the dentist evaluates fit, occlusion, and shade before permanently cementing the crown, making small adjustments as needed to ensure comfort and proper bite. Local anesthesia manages any discomfort during preparation, and modern techniques prioritize precision to minimize the amount of natural tooth removed. After placement you will receive instructions on care and any orientation to help the crown feel natural when chewing and speaking.

Can a tooth that has had a root canal receive a crown?

Yes, teeth that have undergone root canal therapy are frequently restored with crowns to protect the remaining tooth structure and restore function. Root canal–treated teeth can become more brittle over time and are at higher risk of fracture under chewing forces, so full coverage with a crown helps reduce that risk and prolong the tooth's serviceability. The crown also seals the tooth from bacteria at the restorative margin, protecting the underlying endodontic work.

Before placing a crown on a root canal–treated tooth, the dentist will ensure the root canal is properly sealed and that there is sufficient tooth structure to support the restoration; a post-and-core buildup may be used when needed. Periodic monitoring is recommended to confirm ongoing integrity of both the root-treated tooth and the crown, and prompt evaluation is advised if you notice sensitivity, mobility, or changes in the surrounding gum tissue.

How do crowns and bridgework work together to replace missing teeth?

Bridgework uses crowns on the natural teeth adjacent to a gap as anchors, or abutments, to support one or more prosthetic teeth called pontics that fill the space of missing teeth. The abutment teeth are prepared for crowns, which are connected to the pontic(s) to create a single, fixed unit that restores chewing function and helps maintain proper tooth alignment. By replacing missing teeth, bridges also help preserve facial contours and support speech that can be affected by gaps.

The success of a bridge depends on the health and strength of the abutment teeth, the precision of the fit, and good oral hygiene to keep the supporting teeth and surrounding gums healthy. In some situations an implant may be recommended as an alternative to a traditional bridge, but when bridges are appropriate they provide a durable, nonremovable solution that integrates with crowns used elsewhere in the mouth. Your dentist will assess tooth support, bite forces, and hygiene considerations when recommending a bridge design.

What types of dental bridges are available and how are they supported?

Common bridge types include traditional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges, resin-bonded (Maryland) bridges, and implant-supported bridges, each differing in how they are retained and what support they require. Traditional fixed bridges use crowns on both adjacent teeth to support a pontic, while cantilever bridges rely on a crown on only one side of the missing tooth and are used in limited situations. Resin-bonded bridges are more conservative, using metal or ceramic wings bonded to adjacent teeth, and are often considered for replacing front teeth with minimal alteration to neighboring teeth.

Implant-supported bridges attach pontics to dental implants rather than natural teeth, providing independent support that does not rely on modifying adjacent teeth. The choice of bridge depends on the number and location of missing teeth, the condition of neighboring teeth, bone availability, and long-term functional demands. Your dentist will review these factors and recommend the design that best balances conservation of natural tooth structure with predictable performance.

How should I care for crowns and bridges to maximize their longevity?

Caring for crowns and bridges follows the same principles as maintaining natural teeth: brush twice daily with a soft-bristled brush, floss daily, and attend regular dental checkups and professional cleanings. Pay special attention to the margin where the restoration meets the tooth, since plaque accumulation at that interface can lead to decay or gum inflammation; interdental brushes or floss threaders can help clean under bridge pontics and between abutments. Your hygienist will provide targeted recommendations and demonstrate techniques to keep these areas healthy.

Addressing habits that exert excessive force—such as teeth grinding, nail biting, or using teeth as tools—will protect restorations from chipping or loosening; when grinding is present, a custom nightguard may be recommended. Promptly report any looseness, discomfort, or changes in bite so your dentist can evaluate the restoration and intervene early if needed. Regular monitoring helps detect wear, margin breakdown, or gum recession and allows appropriate maintenance to extend the functional life of crowns and bridges.

What are common risks or complications associated with crowns and bridges?

While crowns and bridges are generally predictable restorations, potential issues include sensitivity after placement, marginal leakage leading to decay, fracture of the restoration, or loosening of the cement bond over time. Gum irritation or recession around the restoration margin can expose root surfaces and increase the risk of sensitivity or root caries, and excessive bite forces may cause chipping or wear of the crown material. Rarely, a tooth beneath a crown can develop recurrent decay or require additional treatment such as root canal therapy if bacterial ingress occurs.

Early detection of complications relies on regular dental examinations and patient awareness of changes such as persistent sensitivity, discomfort when chewing, or a sensation of movement. If a problem is identified, conservative repair or adjustment is often possible, but addressing complications promptly reduces the likelihood of more extensive procedures. Your dentist will explain potential risks for your specific situation and outline preventive strategies tailored to your needs.

Are same-day crowns and digital scans available and what are their advantages?

Many modern dental practices offer digital scanning and chairside milling that enable same-day crown delivery, eliminating the need for a temporary restoration and a second appointment. Digital impressions are accurate, comfortable, and streamline communication with the milling unit or dental laboratory, which can improve fit and reduce turnaround time. Same-day technology is particularly useful for patients who prefer fewer visits or who require immediate restoration for functional reasons.

Not every case is suitable for same-day crowns; complex esthetic demands, multi-unit bridges, or certain material choices may still require laboratory fabrication for optimal results. During your consultation the dental team will determine whether digital same-day workflows are appropriate for your tooth and treatment objectives and will explain the expected outcomes and any limitations. The office of Brittney K. Craig, DMD evaluates each case individually to recommend the workflow that best balances convenience with long-term success.

Crowns & Bridgework