DENTAL CROWNS & BRIDGES · BETHESDA, MD

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.

WHEN A TOOTH NEEDS MORE SUPPORT

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.

CROWN OR BRIDGE?

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.

MATCH THE RESTORATION TO THE PROBLEM

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.

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.

YOUR RESTORATION · STEP BY STEP

Evaluate the foundation. Design the restoration. Fit it precisely.

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.

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.

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.

What patients say

200 reasons to choose us.

We don't ask you to trust us. We let our patients do the talking.

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.