Restorative
Dental crowns and bridges, lab-crafted to fit.
Custom-made caps that restore strength, shape and appearance to damaged teeth — and bridges that replace missing teeth where an implant isn't the right call.
What crowns and bridges are
A crown is a custom-made cap that covers a whole tooth — used when a tooth is too damaged, worn or weakened for a filling to hold. Crowns restore the tooth's strength, shape, bite and appearance.
A bridge spans a gap where one or more teeth are missing. It anchors to the teeth on either side of the gap and carries a replacement tooth (called a pontic) in the middle. Bridges are an alternative to a dental implant for replacing a missing tooth — useful when the supporting teeth would also benefit from being covered with crowns.
Both are made by our trusted local lab partner, AceSmile Dental Lab, from a digital scan of your mouth. The crown or bridge is then fitted at Oracare in a separate appointment.
Materials we use
We choose the material to suit the tooth's position, your bite and how visible the restoration will be:
- All-ceramic / zirconia — most natural-looking, ideal for front teeth and visible upper molars. Strong enough for most cases.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal — porcelain outer layer over a metal substructure. Durable for back teeth where bite forces are highest.
- Full metal (gold or alloy) — least visible, longest-lasting for back teeth where appearance isn't a concern.
We discuss the trade-offs at your consultation — strength vs aesthetics vs cost — and choose what suits your case.
What to expect
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Visit 1
Consultation, prep and temporary. We discuss the case, take a digital scan with our 3Shape TRIOS, and prepare the tooth under local anaesthetic. If the tooth structure is too damaged to support the crown directly, we build it up with an in-house core (sometimes with a post for extra support). A temporary crown is fitted while the lab crafts the final restoration — usually 2–3 weeks.
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Lab time
2 to 3 weeks at the lab. The lab fabricates the crown or bridge from our scan. You wear the temporary in the meantime — it's comfortable enough for everyday eating and speaking, though we recommend avoiding sticky or very hard foods on that tooth.
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Visit 2
Final fit. We remove the temporary, check the fit, colour and bite of the final restoration, and bond it permanently into place. Most patients leave the same visit with the crown or bridge fitted.
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Follow-up
Ongoing care. Crowns and bridges are cleaned the same way as natural teeth — twice-daily brushing, daily flossing (with a floss threader for under the bridge pontic), and regular hygiene visits. We check the restoration at your six-month review.
Common questions
Why not same-day crowns?
Same-day crowns (often marketed as CEREC) need an in-house milling machine — we don't have one at Oracare. Instead, we send cases to AceSmile, a local lab, which gives us a wider range of materials and aesthetic options. The trade-off is a 2–3 week wait with a temporary crown in between. At your consultation we'll walk through whether that timeline works for you and what to expect while you wait. If a same-day timeline is essential for your case, mention it when you book — we'll be upfront about what we can and can't offer in-house.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
With proper care — daily oral hygiene, regular cleans, and avoiding habits like chewing ice or grinding — most crowns and bridges typically last 10–15 years, depending on use and care. Many last longer. A night splint is recommended if you grind your teeth, since clenching forces are the most common cause of early failure.
Will it hurt?
Local anaesthetic is standard for the prep visit. You'll feel pressure rather than sharp pain. The temporary is comfortable enough to eat and speak normally between visits, though we recommend avoiding very hot, very cold or very hard foods on that tooth. After the final crown is bonded, mild sensitivity for a few days is normal — it usually settles within a week.
Do I need a root canal first?
Sometimes. If decay or fracture has reached the nerve, the tooth needs a root canal before the crown is placed — otherwise infection in the pulp would compromise the restoration. We assess this at your consultation with X-rays and a clinical exam. If a root canal is needed, we'll plan the full sequence (RCT, then build-up, then crown) before we start.
Crown vs bridge — what's the difference?
A crown covers a single tooth that's still in your mouth but needs to be restored. A bridge replaces a tooth that's been lost — it uses the teeth on either side of the gap as anchors. If the gap is in a spot where the anchor teeth are healthy and don't need work themselves, a dental implant is often a better long-term option because it doesn't require modifying the neighbouring teeth.
Will my health fund cover it?
Most health funds rebate part of a crown or bridge when there's a clinical reason for the treatment (decay, fracture, lost tooth). The portion covered depends on your fund and level of cover. We claim through HICAPS at the chair so you only pay the gap. Cosmetic-only cases attract less or no rebate. See Payment options for payment plans available.
Cost & funding
HICAPS on the spot. If your health fund rebates part of the crown or bridge, we claim at the chair — you only pay the gap. Interest-free in-house payment plans are available for larger plans, and we accept Afterpay / Humm / Zip on request. Full detail on Payment options.
Related services
Damaged or missing a tooth?
A crown or bridge starts with a consultation, a scan and a quote — no surprises later. Book online or call to chat first.