Crowns and dental bridges are among the most common restorative treatments we carry out for our Canning Vale, Thornlie and Southern River patients. Whether a tooth's been weakened by decay, trauma or previous treatment, or you're missing one altogether, both options are built to protect your bite's function without sacrificing how your smile looks.

We use durable, aesthetic materials designed to preserve and rehabilitate your smile long-term, and every crown and bridge we fit is handcrafted at our local dental lab by technicians we've worked alongside for years — so you can trust the result's built to last.

What are crowns and bridges?

A crown covers your entire visible tooth structure, right up to the gumline, protecting what's left of the tooth from further trauma while restoring its natural shape and function.

A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. Rather than sitting removable like a partial denture, a bridge is fixed permanently in place, anchored to the healthy teeth either side of the gap with an artificial crown suspended between them to fill the space.

When you might need one

A crown is typically recommended for a tooth that's had:

• Root canal (endodontic) therapy
• Severe tooth decay
• Advanced trauma or a fracture

A bridge is the right call when you're missing one or more teeth and want a fixed, non-removable solution that restores your bite and smile without altering how you eat or speak.

How the treatment works

Getting a crown or bridge usually takes at least two appointments:

• At your first visit, we prepare the supporting tooth (or teeth) and take an impression
• The impression is sent to our local dental lab, where your custom restoration is handcrafted
• You'll wear a temporary crown or bridge in the meantime to protect the tooth and minimise sensitivity
• About two weeks later, you're back in to have your permanent restoration checked and cemented into place

Delaying treatment on a damaged or missing tooth can lead to uneven wear on your bite and gradual shifting of your other teeth — so it's worth addressing sooner rather than later.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Crowns and bridges with implants

Both crowns and bridges can also be placed over a dental implant where a tooth is missing and there isn't a suitable healthy tooth nearby to anchor a traditional bridge.

Because implant placement itself is a surgical procedure, that part of treatment is carried out by our sister practice, Dentist WA — the crown or bridge that sits on top is still designed and fitted through us. If this sounds like your situation, ask us about our dental implants page for more detail.