Dental crowns are restorations that (as the name implies) sit at the top of the tooth like a cap. Acting as a protective cover for your tooth, crowns are routinely used to enable oral rehabilitation. They are known for helping patients overcome damaged dentition, traumatic loss of teeth, and dental problems caused by disease or genetics. Dental crowns are an essential element in many oral rehabilitation treatment plans.
While porcelain is popular for its natural appearance, with recent advances in dental technology and materials, there are many choices in crown materials. We will guide you through that selection process (with consideration for aesthetics, function, and strength), should the need arise.
Crowns will provide a wide array of solutions for dental problems. The following are some of the examples:
- To repair a tooth with a large area of decay.
- To repair a tooth with a large area of trauma (such as broken teeth).
- For the protection of a tooth that has had a root canal treatment.
- Over a dental implant resulting in a functional restoration resembling a natural tooth in shape and shade.
- For cosmetic enhancement of the appearance of a tooth that has discoloration, odd shape, unusual wear, chipped, or cracked enamel.
The Crown Procedure
The crown procedure requires only local anesthetic, and treatment is generally completed in two appointments. At the first visit, the tooth is prepared. Areas of damage are removed, and the tooth is shaped to provide a stable foundation for the crown. The dentist takes impressions of the tooth and provides these molds along with exact measurements and shading instructions to the lab. The tooth is protected with a temporary restoration while the final crown is being fabricated. You return for a second appointment where the transitional crown is painlessly removed, and the new one is cemented into place. With good oral hygiene, a crown can last many years.