Repair the tooth that’s there — or replace the one that isn’t.
A dental crown rebuilds and protects a damaged tooth. A fixed bridge fills a missing-tooth space by connecting the replacement to supporting teeth. Both can restore function while being designed to blend naturally into your smile.
Crown for the tooth. Bridge for the gap.
The right restoration starts with knowing the difference.
Six situations where a crown or bridge may enter the conversation.
Crowns and bridges solve different problems, but both are used when a tooth — or the space where a tooth used to be — needs more than a simple cosmetic touch-up.
A tooth is cracked or badly broken
When enough tooth structure has been lost, a crown can cover and reinforce the remaining tooth rather than relying on a smaller filling alone.
A large filling is wearing out
A heavily restored tooth may eventually need greater coverage when there isn’t enough strong natural structure left to support another filling predictably.
A tooth has had root canal treatment
Some root canal-treated teeth — particularly back teeth exposed to heavier biting forces — may need a crown to help protect the remaining structure.
A tooth is badly worn or misshapen
A crown can restore shape, proportion and function when the tooth needs more coverage than bonding or a veneer can provide. Crowns can also improve the appearance of badly shaped teeth.
One or more teeth are missing
A fixed bridge can span a gap with artificial teeth that are attached to supporting teeth on either side.
An old crown or bridge is failing
Loose margins, fractures, recurrent decay or changes in the supporting teeth can mean an existing restoration needs to be evaluated for repair or replacement.
The question isn’t only how to make it look whole again — it’s what the remaining tooth can support.
Crown: covers and rebuilds an existing tooth.
Bridge: replaces a missing tooth by spanning
the gap.
One restores a tooth. The other replaces what’s missing.
A dental crown is a custom restoration that covers an existing tooth. It can protect a weakened or broken tooth, rebuild its shape and restore the surface you bite with.
A fixed dental bridge does something different: it replaces one or more missing teeth by spanning the space with artificial teeth connected to supporting teeth beside the gap.
That distinction matters because preparing a natural tooth for a crown or conventional bridge permanently changes it. We evaluate how much healthy structure remains before deciding which restoration makes sense. The ADA emphasizes preserving healthy natural dentition when considering restorative options.
Protect one tooth, bridge a gap or replace an older restoration.
The right choice depends on what remains underneath: the strength of the tooth, the condition of neighboring teeth and whether we’re restoring existing structure or replacing missing structure.
Dental Crown
A custom crown covers the visible portion of a prepared tooth to restore strength, shape and appearance when more extensive protection is needed.
- For damaged, weakened, heavily restored or selected root canal-treated teeth that need more coverage than a filling or bonding can provide.
- For selected patients missing one or more neighboring teeth when a tooth-supported fixed replacement is appropriate.
Fixed Dental Bridge
A bridge places an artificial tooth in the missing space and connects it to supporting teeth, creating a fixed restoration that stays in your mouth.
Crown or Bridge Replacement
Existing restorations can sometimes develop fractures, wear, loose margins or problems in the teeth underneath and may need to be replaced.
- For patients with an older crown or bridge that feels loose, looks different, has broken or is causing new symptoms.
Evaluate the foundation. Design the restoration. Fit it precisely.
- Make sure the tooth can support it
We examine the tooth, bite and surrounding tissues and use dental imaging when needed to understand what lies beneath the visible problem before treatment begins.
- Prepare & capture the shape
The supporting tooth or teeth are shaped as needed, then an impression or digital scan records the area so the crown or bridge can be designed to fit your bite and neighboring teeth.
- Check the fit & secure it
We verify the contacts, bite, shape and appearance before the final restoration is bonded or cemented into place. Depending on the case, a temporary restoration may be used while the final one is made.
Bethesda Dental Group also advertises CEREC technology for selected same-day crowns and bridges; the appropriate workflow depends on the restoration being planned.
200 reasons to choose us.
We don't ask you to trust us. We let our patients do the talking.
I hadn’t been to the dentist in longer than I wanted to admit, so I was expecting a lecture. Instead, the whole visit felt easy. My cleaning was gentle, everything was explained clearly, and I left knowing exactly what to keep an eye on and when to come back.
Melissa R.
Teeth Cleaning & Exam
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I had a small chip on my front tooth that bothered me in every photo. I expected a much bigger treatment, but bonding was enough. The shade matches beautifully and the tooth still looks completely natural.
Laura M.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I drink coffee every day and felt like my teeth had gradually become much darker than they used to be. I wanted them brighter, but I definitely didn’t want that artificial super-white look. They helped me choose a shade that still looked like me, and the difference was exactly what I wanted. My smile looks fresher without looking “done.”
Emily S.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I avoided the dentist for years because of a terrible experience when I was younger. By the time I finally booked, I was embarrassed about both my teeth and how anxious I was. Nobody made me feel judged. They talked through the sedation options with me beforehand, explained exactly what to expect and made the appointment feel completely manageable. It was the first time I left a dental office thinking, “I can actually do this again.”
Lauren D.
Sedation Dentistry
Kensington, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I used to think preventive dentistry just meant getting my teeth cleaned and coming back six months later. They actually took the time to explain why I kept getting cavities in the same areas and helped me change a few things at home. We also added extra protection to a couple of teeth that needed it. My visits feel much more proactive now instead of waiting for the next problem.
Nicole B.
Preventive Dentistry
Kensington, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I had been dealing with jaw soreness and painful clicking for months and wasn’t even sure whether I should see a dentist about it. The appointment was very thorough. They asked when the pain happened, checked how my jaw was moving and explained the difference between the joint and the surrounding muscles. I appreciated that the plan felt conservative and specific to what I was actually experiencing.
Sarah L.
TMJ Evaluation & Treatment
Chevy Chase, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I had already been diagnosed with sleep apnea but struggled with my CPAP enough that I wasn’t using it consistently. I talked with my sleep doctor about alternatives and then came to Bethesda Dental Group for an oral appliance. The fitting process was easy, the adjustments were explained clearly, and traveling is much simpler now. My wife is also very happy that the snoring has improved.
James R.
Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance Therapy
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I had a badly broken molar and kept putting the appointment off because I was nervous about having it removed. They showed me why the tooth couldn’t really be saved, talked me through everything before starting, and the actual extraction was much more manageable than I had built it up to be. I also appreciated that we talked about what to do with the space afterward instead of just stopping there.
Rachel P.
Tooth Extraction
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I went in with a toothache that had kept me up the night before and was honestly dreading hearing “root canal.” The team explained exactly what they were seeing and what would happen next. Once I was numb, the appointment was much easier than I expected, and the relief afterward made me wish I had come in sooner.
Michael T.
Root Canal Treatment
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
I chipped an old filling and was convinced it was going to turn into a much bigger procedure. Dr. Shawn showed me exactly what was happening, explained my options clearly, and repaired the tooth without making the visit stressful. My bite feels completely normal again, and the new filling blends in so well I can barely see it.
Daniel M
Composite Filling Replacement
Bethesda, MD
5.0 ★ · Over 200 reviews on Google · Read all reviews →
Restoring a damaged or missing tooth shouldn’t create another problem.
Crowns and bridges may receive insurance benefits when they’re needed to restore damaged or missing teeth, depending on your individual PPO plan. Bethesda Dental Group accepts PPO insurance, and Cherry, Sunbit, Proceed and Care Credit financing is available for eligible treatment with no hard credit check · approval in seconds · and plans from 3 to 24 months.
Save the tooth when you can. Replace the space when you need to.
Whether you’re dealing with a broken tooth, an old crown or a missing-tooth gap, we’ll determine which restoration protects what you still have and gives you back comfortable function.
