When a tooth is cracked, heavily filled, or missing, a well-made crown or bridge restores how it looks and how it works. At North Shore Dental Group, crowns are part of everyday care with Dr. Adam Calderone, and complex or highly visible cases are designed by Harvard-trained prosthodontist Dr. Seiichi Yamano.
A crown covers the entire visible part of a tooth. It is recommended when a tooth needs more protection than a filling can give.
When a filling takes up much of a tooth, the remaining walls can weaken. A crown holds the tooth together and protects it from fracture.
A crown can hold a cracked tooth together and restore one that has broken, helping to prevent the crack from spreading.
Back teeth that have had root canal therapy are often more brittle. A crown helps protect them for everyday chewing.
Teeth worn down by grinding or erosion can be rebuilt to their proper height and shape, often together with a night guard.
A porcelain crown can improve a tooth that is badly discolored or misshapen when a veneer is not enough.
A custom crown is the visible tooth on top of a dental implant, designed by Dr. Yamano to match your natural teeth.
Not every damaged tooth needs a full crown. An onlay (or, for smaller areas, an inlay) is a custom porcelain or ceramic restoration that replaces only the damaged part of the tooth.
| Onlay / Inlay | Full Crown | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Replaces the damaged part, including one or more cusps (onlay) or the area between them (inlay) | Covers the entire visible part of the tooth |
| Tooth structure | More of your natural tooth is kept | The tooth is shaped on all sides to make room |
| Typical use | Moderate damage where strong, healthy walls remain | Extensive damage, cracks, or after root canal therapy on back teeth |
| Material | Porcelain or ceramic | Porcelain or ceramic, including lithium disilicate and zirconia |
Your dentist will recommend the most conservative restoration that will protect your tooth.
A dental bridge and a dental implant can both fill the gap left by a missing tooth with a fixed restoration that does not come out. They work differently, and each has its place.
| Dental Implant | Dental Bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A titanium post replaces the root, topped by a custom crown | A replacement tooth is held by crowns on the teeth on either side |
| Neighboring teeth | Not involved | Shaped to support crowns |
| Surgery | Yes — placed by our periodontist, Dr. Effie Ahladiotis | No |
| Timeline | Typically 3 to 6 months, including healing | Usually a few weeks |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss like a natural tooth | Special floss threaders clean under the bridge |
| Often a good fit when | Neighboring teeth are healthy and bone can support an implant | Neighboring teeth already need crowns, or surgery is not preferred |
Considering an implant? Learn how our periodontist and prosthodontist plan implant care together on our dental implants page, or read about full-arch implant restorations for replacing a full arch of teeth.
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who completes three additional years of training focused on restoring and replacing teeth. When your case is complex or in the smile zone, Dr. Yamano designs the restoration.
A Harvard-trained prosthodontist and NYU Associate Professor of Prosthodontics. Dr. Yamano designs crowns, bridges, and smile makeovers, along with full-arch implant restorations and custom abutments, paying close attention to shade, contour, and how your teeth meet.
Meet Dr. Yamano →
A general and cosmetic dentist who provides crowns as part of our general dentistry services. Dr. Calderone earned his DDS from NYU College of Dentistry in 2004 and completed his General Practice Residency at Jamaica Hospital in 2005.
Meet Dr. Calderone →Shade, translucency, and shape are planned so the crown or bridge blends with your natural teeth.
Each restoration is adjusted so your teeth meet evenly, which helps protect both the restoration and the teeth around it.
Contours that support healthy gum tissue make a restoration easier to clean and help it look natural at the gum line.
Here is what to expect from the first exam to your final restoration.
We examine the tooth and review your X-rays with Pearl AI analysis, so you can see the problem and understand why a restoration is recommended.
Your dentist explains whether an onlay, crown, bridge, or implant makes the most sense, and answers your questions about materials and timing.
Under local anesthesia, the tooth is shaped and precise impressions are taken. For a bridge, the teeth on either side of the gap are prepared.
A temporary crown or bridge protects the prepared teeth while your final restoration is made.
Your porcelain or ceramic restoration is checked for fit, shade, and bite, adjusted as needed, and permanently cemented.
Brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings keep the tooth and gums healthy. If you grind your teeth, a night guard helps protect your new restoration.
Answers from the restorative team at North Shore Dental Group in Manhasset, NY. Click any question to expand the answer.
A crown is usually completed over two visits. At the first, the tooth is shaped, impressions are taken, and a temporary crown is placed. At the second, the temporary is removed and your final porcelain or ceramic crown is checked for fit, shade, and bite before it is permanently cemented. A bridge follows a similar pattern.
The tooth is numbed with local anesthesia before it is shaped, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Some mild gum tenderness or temperature sensitivity for a few days afterward is common and usually settles on its own.
Porcelain and ceramic crowns are shaded and shaped to match the teeth around them. For front teeth and visible areas, materials such as lithium disilicate and zirconia are chosen for their combination of strength and a natural appearance. Complex or highly visible cases can be designed by our prosthodontist, Dr. Seiichi Yamano.
Both replace missing teeth with a fixed restoration. A bridge is anchored by crowns on the neighboring teeth, which is often a good choice when those teeth already need crowns. An implant replaces the root of the missing tooth and does not involve the neighboring teeth, but it requires surgery and a healing period. Our team can walk you through both — see our dental implants page for more on implant treatment.
Keep the crown in a safe place and call us. Avoid chewing on that side, and do not use household glue to reattach it. For urgent problems, our emergency line is (516) 262-3070. Learn more on our emergency dentist page.
Many dental plans include benefits for crowns and bridges, though coverage varies. Our adult providers accept eligible out-of-network benefits, and we always file claims and work with your insurance for you. Upon request, we gladly verify benefits and request an estimate; estimates are not guarantees, and coverage remains the patient’s responsibility. Learn how insurance works at our office.
Request an appointment at our Manhasset office, or call or text with questions. We will examine the tooth, explain your options, and plan a restoration that fits your needs.
(516) 627-3535Call or text us — we are here Monday through Saturday.
