When a filling isn’t enough
Fillings repair holes; crowns rebuild structure. A crown covers the whole visible tooth — a cap, shaped and shaded to match its neighbors — and holds together what’s left underneath. We reach for one when:
- A crack threatens to split the tooth
- A large old filling is failing and there’s not enough tooth left for a new one
- A tooth broke below the level a filling can rebuild
- A tooth needs protection after root canal treatment
The process is unhurried and thoroughly numbed: shape the tooth, take an impression, place a solid temporary, and cement the lab-made final crown a couple of weeks later. Where a smaller repair will do the job, we’ll offer an inlay or onlay instead and keep more of your natural tooth.
Bridges: filling the gap
A missing tooth is more than a cosmetic problem — neighbors drift into the space, the opposing tooth over-erupts, and your bite slowly reorganizes around the gap. A bridge closes the space with a false tooth anchored to crowns on the teeth beside it. No surgery, no removable hardware, and the result is fixed in place — you brush it, chew with it, and forget about it.
At your exam we’ll walk through the options for your specific gap — bridge, partial denture, or a referral for an implant consult — with real prices for each, so the decision is yours and informed. Start with an exam: (831) 240-0865 or request an appointment.