When teeth are too damaged or heavily decayed that a filing may not be suitable, a crown may the the answer to repair it.  A crown is a type of dental restoration which caps and encircles a tooth or dental implant and is usually bonded to the tooth using a durable & lasting dental cement. This may be used to improve the strength and/or appearance of teeth.  On the other hand, a bridge--also known as a fixed partial denture--is used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.  The result is a natural looking smile.