A method of making a dental crown or bridge restoration (5) comprises forming a precursor crown (5') outside of a patient's mouth with a first restorative material (6), with a buccal contour on the buccal wall substantially the same as a buccal contour on a final crown restoration, and an open space (9, 10) on or around at least one of the mesial side wall (11) or the distal side wall (12); and filling and securing a second material (7), different from the first restorative material, inside the open space of the precursor crown while outside the patient's mouth, and with the precursor crown having a strength substantially equivalent to the final crown restoration, and with the buccal contour being substantially the same as the buccal contour on the final crown, prior to filling and securing the second material.