A crown covers a tooth that has lost too much structure to hold a filling, most often after a root canal, a fracture or extensive decay. A bridge uses the teeth on either side of a gap as supports for a replacement tooth in the middle.
Material choice matters. Zirconia is strong and suits back teeth. Lithium disilicate, sold as E-max, has the best optical properties for front teeth. Metal-ceramic is older and still reliable but shows a dark margin as gums recede.
When crowns & bridges is the right treatment
- A tooth that has had a root canal, particularly a molar or premolar
- A cracked, worn or heavily filled tooth
- A single missing tooth where the adjacent teeth already need crowning
- Discoloured or misshapen front teeth where alignment is already acceptable
What the treatment involves
- 1
Preparation
The tooth is shaped under local anaesthesia to create room for the crown, and any old restoration or decay is removed.
- 2
Scan or impression
A digital scan or conventional impression records the prepared tooth and the bite. Shade is matched against the neighbouring teeth.
- 3
Temporary
A temporary crown protects the tooth while the permanent one is fabricated in the lab.
- 4
Fit and cement
The final crown is checked for margin fit, contact points, shade and bite, then cemented.
Cost
Crown cost is driven almost entirely by the material, from metal-ceramic through zirconia to lithium disilicate.
See dental crown cost in Lucknow →Questions patients ask
Questions patients ask about root canal and crowns
- Is single sitting root canal treatment safe?
- Does a root canal hurt?
- Zirconia or metal-ceramic crown: which is better?
- Do I need a crown after a root canal?
- What are the types of dental crowns?
- What are the side effects of a root canal?
- What happens during root canal treatment, step by step?
- What happens when you get a crown (cap)?
- Filling or root canal: which do I need?
- Save the tooth with a root canal, or extract and implant?
- What causes root canal tooth pain years later?
- Can you get a crown without a root canal?
- What can I eat after a root canal?
- How is a root canal on a front tooth different?
- What is a temporary crown, and how do you look after it?
- What is a zirconia dental cap, and is it a good choice?
- When does a front tooth need a crown rather than a veneer or bonding?
- How can I prevent a root canal?
- What is the full form of RCT in dentistry?
- What is the full form of PFM in dentistry?
- What is the full form of FPD in dentistry?
- What is an endodontist and when do you need one?
- What is a tooth cap, and when do you need one?
- Root Canal Cost in Lucknow
- Dental Crown Cost in Lucknow
- Dental Bridge Cost in Lucknow
Crowns & Bridges: common questions
Zirconia or E-max, which is better?
They serve different jobs. Zirconia has higher flexural strength and is the safer choice for molars and for bridges. E-max is more translucent and looks closer to natural enamel, which makes it preferable for visible front teeth where the load is lower.
Should I get a bridge or an implant?
An implant preserves the neighbouring teeth and the bone. A bridge requires trimming the two adjacent teeth, so it makes most sense when those teeth already need crowns or when bone volume rules out an implant. A bridge is also faster.
How long does a crown last?
Well-made crowns commonly serve for a decade or more. What usually fails is not the crown but the tooth underneath it, through new decay at the margin, which is why margin hygiene and regular checks matter.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.