ServicesCrowns & Bridges
Crowns & Bridges in Marlborough
A crown protects a tooth that is cracked, worn or weakened by a large filling. A bridge fills the gap left by a missing tooth. We match shape and shade carefully, and we walk you through your plan's paperwork before treatment starts.
When a Crown or Bridge Is the Right Call
Some teeth can no longer hold a filling. When a crack runs deep, when more than half the tooth is old filling material, or after a root canal leaves the tooth brittle, a crown covers it from the gumline up and spreads biting force evenly. That keeps the tooth working instead of losing it to a fracture.
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring a false tooth to crowns on the neighbors. It restores chewing on that side, keeps nearby teeth from drifting into the space and fills out your smile.
We have been in practice over 11 years, and the question we hear most about crowns is what the dental plan will pay. We answer it before the work begins, not after the bill arrives.
What Your Crown or Bridge Treatment Includes
Exam and X-rays
Before recommending anything, we check the tooth, its root and the supporting bone on images. If a crown is unlikely to hold up, you hear that plainly, along with the alternatives.
Photos and notes for your plan
Many plans ask for X-rays and a written reason before they approve a crown or bridge. We gather that documentation and can send a pre-treatment estimate so you know what your plan expects to cover.
Material chosen for the tooth
Porcelain and zirconia look natural and suit front teeth. Stronger zirconia or porcelain fused to metal handles the heavy load on back molars. We explain why we recommend one for your bite.
Shade and shape matching
We match color, translucency and contour to the teeth beside it, so the restoration blends in at a normal talking distance.
A temporary while you wait
You leave the preparation visit with a temporary crown or bridge that protects the tooth and lets you eat carefully until the final piece is ready.
Fit check and bite adjustment
At the second visit we check the margins, contacts and bite before cementing, then polish any spot that feels high.
Signs a Tooth May Need a Crown or Bridge
- A crack or sharp pain on biting
- Pain that flashes as you release a bite often points to a cracked tooth. A crown holds the tooth together and keeps the fracture from spreading toward the root.
- A large or failing old filling
- Big fillings wear and begin to leak at their edges with time. When little natural tooth remains around them, a crown is usually the more durable answer.
- A tooth treated with a root canal
- Once a molar or premolar has had root canal treatment, it loses moisture and can crack under normal chewing. Most of these teeth need a crown to keep them from splitting.
- A gap from a missing tooth
- Neighboring teeth slowly lean into an empty space, and the tooth above or below can drift as well. A bridge keeps everything where it belongs.
- Worn, chipped or discolored teeth
- Teeth ground down over the years or darkened by old dental work can be rebuilt and evened out with crowns.
How the Visits Work
- 1
Consultation and estimate
We examine the tooth, take X-rays and talk through your choices. You get a written treatment plan, and if you carry dental coverage we can send a pre-treatment estimate to your plan first.
- 2
Preparing the tooth
After numbing the area, we shape the tooth so the crown has room to sit, then take an impression. Most people describe this visit as long rather than uncomfortable.
- 3
Temporary and lab work
A temporary goes on the same day. The final crown or bridge is crafted to our shade and shape notes, which usually takes a couple of weeks.
- 4
Final fitting
We remove the temporary, test the fit and bite, and cement the restoration once it feels right. We also show you how to floss around and under a bridge.
What Affects the Cost of a Crown or Bridge
The price depends on the tooth, the material and what we find once the old filling or decay is removed. We give you a written treatment plan before any work, and we accept most dental insurance plans. For patients without insurance, our Office Dental Plan and the CareCredit Patient Payment Plan are both options to ask about.
- Single crown or multi-unit bridge
- A bridge involves at least three linked units, so it costs more than one crown. Each extra missing tooth adds a unit.
- Material
- Zirconia, all-porcelain and porcelain fused to metal differ in cost as well as strength and appearance.
- Work needed underneath
- Some teeth need a buildup to replace missing structure before a crown can sit securely. We tell you if that applies once we see the tooth.
- Your plan's rules
- Dental plans often cover crowns at a different rate than fillings, and some set waiting periods or replacement limits. A pre-treatment estimate shows where you stand before you commit.
Crown and Bridge Questions
- Will my insurance pay for a crown?
- Many plans cover part of a crown when it is needed to save the tooth, but each plan sets its own percentage and limits. We send your X-rays and notes with a pre-treatment estimate so the plan confirms its share in writing. We cannot promise what your plan will decide, but you will know before treatment starts.
- Does getting a crown hurt?
- The tooth is fully numbed while we prepare it, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Some sensitivity to cold for a few days afterward is common and fades on its own.
- How long does a crown or bridge last?
- Many last well over a decade with good care. Grinding, skipped cleanings and decay at the edges shorten that, which is why we check them at your regular exams and cleanings.
- Can a crown be whitened later?
- No, porcelain and zirconia keep the color they were made in. If you are thinking about teeth whitening, it is best to do it first so we can match the crown to your brighter shade.
- Should I choose a bridge or have the tooth pulled?
- It depends on how much healthy tooth is left and the condition of the neighbors. We give you an honest answer after the exam, and if an extraction makes more sense we explain why.
Get a Clear Plan for That Tooth
Bring your insurance card and we will go over the tooth, the options and the paperwork together at one appointment. Our Marlborough office is a short drive for families in Hudson, Southborough and the surrounding area.