When are dental crowns connected to one another?

Has your dentist mentioned joining crowns on neighboring teeth? It’s reasonable to want to know why. Connected crowns, called splinted crowns, are two or more crowns joined as one restoration. Dentists may recommend them in selected cases, such as to steady a loose tooth or as part of an implant plan, but needing two crowns side by side is not reason enough.¹ 

What you'll learn in this article: 

• How connected crowns differ from a dental bridge 

• When joining crowns may help support natural teeth 

• Why implant crowns require a separate assessment 

• What connected crowns mean for cleaning and future care 

Have questions about a crown recommendation? Schedule an examination with an Aspen Dental provider to review your options. 

How are connected crowns different from a bridge? 

A crown covers a tooth. With splinted crowns on natural teeth, each crown covers an existing tooth, and the crowns are joined together. Picture two neighboring teeth wearing caps with a connector between them. 

A dental bridge fills a space where a tooth is missing. Depending on its design, it may use crowns on supporting teeth or attach to implants. A traditional bridge has a replacement tooth between crowned teeth, but not every bridge has support on both sides.² 

If you're unsure which restoration is being proposed, ask your dentist to show you which teeth are present and which are being replaced. Understanding the dental crown procedure can also help you prepare for that conversation. 

When might dentists connect crowns on natural teeth? 

Connecting crowns is a treatment choice with tradeoffs. The reasons tend to fall into two groups: teeth that need extra stability and teeth with little structure left to hold a crown. 

To help stabilize teeth with reduced support 

Teeth can be mobile when their roots are short or have lost some of their support. In selected cases, joining crowns can help stabilize them, particularly when they can be connected to a neighboring tooth that is not mobile.¹ 

Ask what is causing the looseness, how any gum disease will be managed and whether the teeth are suitable to keep before committing to permanent crowns. 

When a tooth has limited structure to hold a crown 

A tooth with little of its natural structure left may be harder to restore securely. Splinting can sometimes add stability, but a severely compromised tooth may need a different treatment.¹ 

This deserves a clear explanation of the outlook for each tooth. Ask what connecting the crowns is expected to accomplish and what alternatives are available. 

Why aren't adjacent crowns always connected? 

Separate crowns make it easier to repair or replace one restoration independently. Joining them can make that work more involved and costly. Heavy grinding alone is not a reason to assume connected crowns will perform better.¹ 

Before agreeing to treatment, it can help to ask: 

• What problem would joining these crowns solve? 

• Could each tooth support its own crown? 

• What would happen if one tooth needed more treatment later? 

You don't need to know all the dental terminology. You should understand why the proposed design fits your situation. 

When are implant crowns connected? 

Implants replace tooth roots, so planning crowns on implants involves different considerations from restoring natural teeth. Your dentist may consider connected crowns to distribute forces across implants. Implant design and the planned restoration matter.¹ 

That does not mean connected implant crowns always last longer. A review of studies involving short implants found no statistically significant difference in implant survival or bone loss around the implants between connected and separate restorations. The evidence had limitations, and the finding should not be applied to every implant situation.³

Ask whether the recommendation is based on your particular implants, their positions and the way your teeth meet. There is no single design that suits every patient. 

How do you clean connected crowns? 

The connector blocks the usual path of floss down between the crowns. You'll need a way to reach beneath it and clean along the gum line. Ask your dental team to demonstrate the technique on your restoration, including whether a floss threader or interdental brush fits the space. These tools are also used to clean beneath dental bridges.² 

Keep brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and attending regular cleanings and exams.⁴ Before treatment, mention anything that makes detailed cleaning difficult, such as limited hand movement. A cleaning plan should be practical for you to follow at home. 

If you're weighing connected versus separate crowns, schedule an examination with your local dental provider to discuss the benefits, tradeoffs and care involved. 

When are dental crowns connected to one another? FAQs 

Do connected temporary crowns mean my final crowns will be joined? 

Not necessarily. Temporary crowns may be joined to improve their strength and help them stay in place while the final restorations are made.¹ Ask whether the connection is temporary or part of the final design. Seeing joined temporary crowns does not, by itself, tell you what your permanent crowns will look like. 

Can teeth underneath connected crowns still get cavities? 

Yes. Crowns do not make the underlying teeth immune to decay. Bacteria can cause problems around a crown that does not fit properly, and daily cleaning remains important.⁴ If food repeatedly gets stuck in one spot, tell your dental team so they can check the area and help you clean it effectively. 

What changes should I report after getting crowns? 

Contact your dentist if a crown feels loose or develops a crack or sharp edge. A bad taste, bad breath or pain that keeps you awake also needs attention.⁴ Describe where you feel the problem and when it happens. An examination can help determine whether the restoration, the tooth or another issue needs care. 

Sources 

¹ Spear Education: “The Guide to When and When Not to Splint Restorations.” https://www.speareducation.com/resources/spear-digest/the-guide-to-when-and-when-not-to-splint-restorations/ 

² Cleveland Clinic: “Dental Bridges.”  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10921-dental-bridges 

³ American College of Prosthodontists: “Survival Rates of Splinted and Nonsplinted Prostheses Supported By Short Dental Implants.” https://www.prosthodontics.org/survival-rates-of-splinted-and-nonsplinted-prostheses-supported-by-short-dental-implants/ 

⁴ Cleveland Clinic: “Dental Crowns.”  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10923-dental-crowns