Strong, natural-looking repairs
Crowns and bridges restore both the strength and appearance of your smile. Whether it's one damaged tooth or several missing in a row.
Two solutions, two different jobs
A crown caps a single damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its strength and shape while protecting it from further breakdown. A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth in a row, anchored to the healthy teeth (or implants) on either side of the gap. Both are fixed (not removable), and built to blend in with your natural smile.
Common reasons for crowns and bridges
Cracked or Fractured Tooth
A crown reinforces a tooth that's too damaged for a filling alone to fix.
After a Root Canal
Root canal-treated teeth often need a crown afterward to restore full strength.
Missing Teeth in a Row
A bridge fills the gap with a fixed, non-removable solution anchored to neighboring teeth.
The steps involved
1. Prep Visit
You're numbed, the tooth is shaped, and a temporary goes on while your final piece is made.
2. The Wait
Some crowns can be milled and seated the same day. Otherwise, it's sent to our partner dental lab and usually ready within two weeks.
3. Cementation Visit
The temporary comes off, the final piece is checked and cemented. Done in one visit.
See our crown or bridge guides for the full recovery timeline.
Or browse our full treatment guide → for every procedure we offer.
Inlays & onlays
When a cavity is too big for a regular filling but not big enough to need a full crown, an inlay or onlay is a more conservative option. A custom, lab-made piece (porcelain, composite, or gold) that fits into or over the chewing surface of the tooth. It preserves more natural tooth structure than a crown, in a similar two-visit process: prep and temporary at the first visit, final piece bonded in at the second, usually 1–3 weeks later. See our inlay/onlay guide → for more.
Core build-up + post and core
Sometimes a tooth has lost so much structure that there isn't enough left for a crown to grip onto securely. A core build-up rebuilds that missing structure with composite resin before the crown goes on. If more than about half the tooth's structure above the gumline is gone, a small post is anchored into the root canal space for extra retention, similar to a tent pole supporting the rebuilt structure. This is typically done at the same visit as your crown prep. See our core build-up guide → for more.
Damaged or missing a tooth?
See if a crown or bridge is the right fix for you.
Ask About Crowns & Bridges →Crowns & Bridges in Norwalk, CT FAQ
With good care, ten to fifteen years or longer is common, though this varies by material and individual wear.
No, it does not hurt. The area is fully numbed beforehand, and most patients describe the process as similar to getting a filling.
It depends on how many teeth are involved and the condition of the surrounding teeth. We'll walk through the tradeoffs during your visit. Learn more about implants.
Yes, mild sensitivity to hot and cold for the first 1–2 weeks is completely normal as the tooth adjusts. If it feels high when you bite down, that's a quick, simple adjustment. Don't try to wear it down yourself.
Yes. This includes prescribed medications, but also any recreational or non-prescribed drug use. Certain substances can seriously affect how your body responds to local anesthesia. We will never judge you for disclosing this. This practice was built around patient safety first, and what you tell us stays confidential.
Need a crown or bridge?
Join our patient list and we'll help determine the right restorative option for you.