Crown and Bridges

Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. They are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be placed and removed by a dentist.

A crown is a type of dental restorations which completely caps or encircles a tooth. Crowns are are often needed when a really awful cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth (usually cause by not brushing one's teeth well enough). They are typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cements. Crowns are often used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth. While unarguably beneficial to dental health, the procedure and materials can be can be rather expensive for your healthcare provider.
Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges.