Crowns & bridges
A crown is a cap that takes over the outside of a damaged tooth so the tooth underneath stops breaking down.
Teeth crack. Large fillings weaken what's left around them. Root-treated teeth lose their blood supply and turn brittle. In all three cases the tooth is still useful, but it can no longer take chewing force on its own.
A crown covers it completely and takes that force instead. A bridge is the same idea across a gap: crowns on the teeth either side, joined by a false tooth in the middle.
Signs that usually point here
Crowns are usually recommended for one of these situations rather than requested outright.
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A tooth that has just had root canal treatment, especially a back tooth
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A visible crack, or a tooth that hurts sharply only when you bite
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A filling so large there's more filling than tooth left
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A tooth that has already fractured a piece off
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A missing tooth with sound teeth on both sides of the gap
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An old crown that has loosened, discoloured at the edge, or come off
What actually happens
Two appointments about a week apart, with a temporary crown protecting the tooth in between.
Assessment and shade matching
The tooth is checked for decay underneath and the material is chosen. Shade is matched to the teeth next to it in natural light, which matters far more on front teeth than back ones.
Consultation visitPreparing the tooth
Under local anaesthetic, the tooth is shaped down so the crown fits over it without sitting proud of the bite. An impression or scan is taken and sent to the lab.
45–60 minutesTemporary crown
A temporary is fitted the same day so you're never walking around with a bare prepared tooth. Avoid very sticky food on that side while it's in.
5–7 daysFitting the permanent crown
The lab crown is tried in, checked against your bite, adjusted, and cemented. You leave chewing on it normally.
20–30 minutesBefore and after
A case from the clinic, shared with the patient's written consent.
Zirconia crown on a root-treated molar, two visits. See more cases →
Does getting a crown hurt?
Preparing the tooth is done under local anaesthetic, so the appointment itself is comfortable. Most patients find it easier than a filling because it's less fiddly.
The tooth can be sensitive to cold for a few days after preparation if the nerve is still alive. That settles. Root-treated teeth have no nerve, so they feel nothing at all.
Fitting the permanent crown usually needs no anaesthetic. It's a try-in, an adjustment, and cement.
What it costs
Material is the main variable. Zirconia is strongest and most natural-looking; metal-ceramic is more affordable and still perfectly serviceable on back teeth.
- Consultation and assessmentStarts at
- Metal-ceramic crownStarts at
- Full ceramic crownStarts at
- Zirconia crownStarts at
- Bridge (per unit)Starts at
Ranges, not quotes. You get the exact figure after the examination and before any work starts.
What people ask before booking
Front teeth: zirconia or full ceramic, because appearance matters and the bite force is lower. Back teeth: metal-ceramic is entirely adequate and cheaper, though zirconia is stronger. You'll get a recommendation based on which tooth it is, not on which costs more.
Ten to fifteen years typically, longer with good cleaning. Crowns don't decay, but the natural tooth underneath can, at the margin where crown meets tooth. That margin is what needs flossing.
No. Crowns keep the shade they were made in, permanently. If you're planning to whiten your teeth, do it before the crown is made so the shade can be matched to the lighter result.
A bridge uses the teeth either side of the gap for support, which means filing those healthy teeth down. An implant stands alone and doesn't touch them. A bridge is faster and cheaper; an implant preserves more of your own teeth and lasts longer.
Often yes, if the crown is intact and the tooth underneath is sound. Bring the crown with you. Don't throw it away. If there's decay underneath, the tooth is treated first and a new crown may be needed.
Not if the shade is matched properly and the tooth is a back one. On front teeth, zirconia and full ceramic reflect light much like enamel. The give-away on cheap crowns is usually a dark line at the gum, which metal-free materials avoid.
What usually comes next
Book a consultation
The consultation covers the examination and, where it's needed, an X-ray. You'll know what's wrong and what it costs before committing to anything.
In pain right now? Call the clinic instead of waiting for a callback.