Crowns & Bridges in Lisle, IL
Crowns and bridges bring back both function and appearance when a tooth is too damaged for a filling or one or more teeth are missing. Drs. Brammeier and Ericson craft custom porcelain and ceramic restorations at Brammeier Family Dental that look, feel, and function like your natural teeth, so eating, speaking, and smiling feel confident again.
The traditional impression process is what this animation depicts. Here in our office, most crowns rely instead on CEREC and digital scanning, so putty impressions are not needed.
What it is
A crown is a custom cap that fits over a damaged tooth. A bridge is a row of connected crowns that anchors to neighboring teeth to replace one or more missing teeth.
Who it's for
Anyone dealing with cracked, broken, or severely decayed teeth, large failing fillings, post-root-canal teeth, or gaps from missing teeth.
How we help
Precise digital impressions, porcelain or ceramic matched to your teeth, and same-day CEREC options in select cases.
Cracked, broken, or missing a tooth? A crown or bridge can bring back your smile and your bite.
Dental Crowns
Shaped like a tooth, a dental crown caps a weakened or damaged tooth to protect it and restore its shape, strength, and appearance. Each crown is custom made to match your natural teeth, and with proper care it can last 15 years or longer.
When You May Need a Crown
- A cavity too large for a filling to handle
- A tooth that is cracked, chipped, or severely worn
- Protection for a tooth left weak after root canal therapy (we coordinate with a trusted endodontist when a root canal is needed)
- A replacement for a large, failing, or broken filling
- Coverage for a dental implant or an anchor for a bridge
- A cosmetic fix for a misshapen or discolored tooth
Crown Materials
- All-porcelain/ceramic: The most natural-looking choice, well suited to front teeth and visible areas
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: Pairs the strength of metal with a natural porcelain surface
- Zirconia: Tooth-colored and exceptionally strong, ideal for back teeth that take heavy bite force
- Gold alloy: Long-lasting and easy on the opposing teeth, a common pick for back molars
- CEREC same-day crowns: Designed digitally and milled in our office, with no temporary crown or second visit needed
Dental Bridges
When one or more teeth go missing, a dental bridge fills the gap they leave behind. It is made of artificial teeth (pontics) held by crowns on the neighboring teeth, and once cemented it stays fixed in place. There is nothing to take out, and it feels and functions like natural teeth.
Filling that gap keeps your remaining teeth from drifting out of position, brings back proper chewing and speech, and helps your face hold its natural shape.
Bridge Benefits
- Brings back your smile along with natural chewing and speech
- Stops the remaining teeth from drifting into the gap
- Spreads bite forces evenly across your arch
- Supports your facial structure and wards off the sunken look that missing teeth can bring
- Stays put with no adhesives, no removal, and no daily adjustment
Bridge vs. Implant
- Bridges attach to neighboring teeth and wrap up in 2–3 visits
- Implants stand on their own and leave the adjacent teeth untouched
- A bridge often wins out when the neighboring teeth already need crowns
- An implant is ideal when the adjacent teeth are healthy and strong
- Drs. Brammeier and Ericson will help you weigh the choices around your specific situation
Missing a tooth or coping with a damaged one? We will help you settle on the best restoration for your needs.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Visit Steps
- Consultation: Drs. Brammeier and Ericson examine the tooth, go over your X-rays, and talk through whether a crown, bridge, or another option suits you
- Preparation: The tooth is numbed and shaped to receive the crown, then digital or physical impressions are taken
- Temporary crown: A temporary shields the tooth while your custom crown or bridge is made (unless you are using CEREC same-day)
- Final placement: At a second visit, usually 2–3 weeks later, the temporary comes off and your permanent restoration is cemented in
- Bite adjustment: We fine-tune the fit until your bite feels natural and comfortable
Helpful Tips
- Each visit usually runs 60–90 minutes
- Numbness lingers for 1–2 hours afterward, so hold off eating until feeling returns
- A temporary crown works fine but is less durable, so skip sticky or very hard foods
- Mild sensitivity after cementation is normal and typically settles within a week
- Brush and floss around a crown just as you would a natural tooth, and reach under bridges with a floss threader
- Given good care and regular checkups, crowns and bridges can last 15+ years
Frequently Asked Questions
Restore your confidence and protect your teeth. Custom crowns and bridges built to last.