Crowns and bridges are both fixed dental prosthesis which are meant to cover, and replace natural teeth respectively. There are times when a tooth has sustained a considerable amount of damage and loss of structure, such as in case of extensive decay, root canal treatments, fractures, or wear. When this happens, it is important to cover the affected tooth so as to protect it from further damage, and to restore its function in the oral cavity. Porcelain crowns serve this purpose perfectly. They are aesthetically appealing, strong, and resilient enough to withstand intra-oral forces. Crowns are made to look and feel exactly like the other natural teeth in the oral cavity.

Bridges on the other hand, are custom fabricated for patients to replace the missing teeth in their oral cavity. These prosthesis require the support of healthy teeth in adjacent side of the empty socket to fix an artificial crown over it. For this purpose, the adjacent teeth are trimmed down slightly, and an impression is taken of the segment. A bridge is then made using porcelain, or porcelain combined with metal, and cemented on to the prepared teeth.

Crowning and bridging procedures take at least two visits to the clinic to complete, because these artificial teeth are fabricated at dental laboratories by technicians.