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Professional Dental Terminology for the Dental Assistant and Hygienist

Course Number: 542

Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and Bridges - Figure 1

Typically, dental crowns cover a single tooth that has lost most of its surface due to extensive decay, breakage or root canal therapy. Teeth become brittle and break easily after root canal therapy. A bridge can replace a single, or multiple teeth that have been lost.

The pontic or false tooth is connected together and anchored on abutment teeth. Crowns and bridges are usually made of gold or porcelain fused to metal.

Crowns and Bridges - Figure 2
Crowns and Bridges - Figure 3

Nikki to Group: “Our second patient, Ms. Jackie Black, is scheduled for the delivery of a bridge to replace tooth #10. We also need to talk about the full porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown  she will be having placed on #23.”