Crowns and bridges in Waterloo.
A crown protects a damaged tooth; a bridge replaces a missing one — both made to match your own teeth and priced before anything starts.
Is this you?
You’ve cracked or broken a tooth
A crack tends to spread a little every time you bite on it. A crown covers the whole tooth and holds it together, so the damage stops getting worse.
One tooth is mostly filling
When a filling gets large enough, the thin shell of tooth around it can fracture under normal chewing. A crown wraps the tooth and takes the load off what’s left.
You’ve had a root canal
A root-canal tooth loses its blood supply and turns more brittle over time. Back teeth especially usually need a crown afterwards to keep them from splitting.
You’re missing one tooth
A bridge fills the gap with a replacement tooth held by crowns on the teeth either side. It’s one option — an implant is the other — and we’ll compare them honestly for your situation.
How it works here
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Exam and digital scan
We check the tooth, the gums, and the teeth next to it, then scan your mouth with the iTero camera wand — no impression moulds. You leave this visit with a written plan and a written price.
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Preparing the tooth
The tooth is frozen, shaped down, and scanned so the lab can build your crown. The appointment runs about an hour; once the freezing wears off, expect a day or two of sensitivity or gum soreness.
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Wearing the temporary
You’ll wear a temporary crown for roughly two weeks while the lab makes the final one. It looks fine but isn’t as strong — chew on the other side, and call us if it comes loose so we can re-cement it.
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Fitting the final crown or bridge
We remove the temporary, check the fit and shade against your other teeth, and cement the final piece. The bite gets adjusted until it feels even; even then, a new crown can take a few days to stop feeling new.
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If you’re getting a bridge
The process is the same, except the teeth on both sides of the gap are shaped for crowns. It usually means the same two appointments over about two weeks — no surgery and no months of healing.
What it costs
The total depends on which tooth is involved, the material you choose, and whether the tooth needs other work first. You’ll get a written estimate after the exam — before any treatment begins.
What's included:
- Exam and digital scan
- Tooth preparation and temporary crown
- The final crown or bridge, fitted and adjusted
- Follow-up checks on the fit
You'll always receive a written estimate before treatment begins. See all fees & coverage
What to expect at Auburn Centre Dental
Crowns and bridges here start with a digital scan, not a tray of impression material. The iTero scanner maps your teeth in a few minutes with a small camera wand, and the scan goes straight to the lab that makes your crown.
You’ll see the same team at each visit, and every cost is in writing before you commit to anything. If a tooth could be fixed with something smaller than a crown, we’ll say so.
Questions people actually ask
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is frozen before it’s shaped, so you shouldn’t feel sharp pain during the appointment. Afterwards, most people describe a day or two of sensitivity or sore gums, managed with over-the-counter pain relief. If it lasts longer than that, call us.
How long does a crown take?
Usually two appointments about two weeks apart: one to prepare the tooth and fit a temporary, one to cement the final crown. The wait in between is the lab building your crown from the scan.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
With good brushing, flossing, and regular checkups, commonly ten years or more. The crown itself can’t decay, but the tooth underneath and the gums around it still can — so the edges need cleaning like any other tooth.
Bridge or implant — which should I choose?
Honest answer: it depends on your teeth and what matters to you.
- A bridge is quicker — about two weeks, no surgery — but it means shaping the healthy teeth on either side of the gap.
- An implant leaves those teeth alone and replaces the root, but it involves minor surgery and three to six months of healing.
We’ll lay out both options for your situation, with written prices, and the choice is yours. See Dental Implants for the full picture.
Will a crown look obvious?
Crowns are made to match the colour and shape of the teeth around them. For front teeth the shade match matters most; for back teeth, strength does. We’ll talk through the material options and what each means for looks and durability.
Does insurance cover crowns and bridges?
Many plans cover a portion, often with limits or waiting periods — coverage varies widely. Bring your plan details and we’ll check before you commit, and every estimate we give is in writing.