What does it mean when a dentist offers us a crown or a bridge as a solution?

Crowns and bridges are very often suggested by dentists as a prosthetic solution. A crown strengthens a weakened tooth structure as a result of caries, nerve extraction, various fractures, or is an aesthetic solution for discolored teeth. When one or more teeth are lost, the empty space can be replaced with the help of a bridge, and the bridge can also be a prosthetic solution for fractured and discolored teeth. It is characteristic of a bridge that it must have one, two or more carrier teeth that can carry intermediate members that compensate for lost teeth.
Before making the crown or bridge itself, it is necessary to check the condition of the teeth and assess whether the existing condition requires pre-prosthetic preparation in the form of caries removal or nerve extraction. After pre-prosthetic preparation and a detailed therapy plan in accordance with the patient’s wishes and possibilities, teeth grinding is started. Then follow the procedures of taking impressions or, in more modern times, scanning with the help of a digital scanner, which significantly shortens the time the patient spends in the clinic. Impressions, i.e. a scanned image of the ground teeth, goes to the dental laboratory where the crown or bridge is made.
Crowns and bridges are made of metal ceramic or full ceramic (zirconia). Metal-ceramic crowns and bridges have a metal base on which ceramic is applied, unlike all-ceramic zirconia, which do not have a metal base. After fabrication in the dental laboratory, the final cementation of the crown or bridge follows in the dental office, during which the dentist checks the relationship to other teeth and other structures and, if necessary, makes minimal corrections.
Such prosthetic solutions offer patients numerous options to keep or regain a healthy and beautiful smile, without pain.