Crowns

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are caps that go over the tops of teeth as replacements for the top portion of the natural tooth. They are shaped like your teeth, so you can use them to chew normally. You may need a crown if you have a tooth that has significantly worn down or is broken, or if the tooth has enough decay that there is not enough healthy tooth left to hold a filling. Crowns can also go over teeth with such large fillings that there is not enough tooth to support and hold the filling.

Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. These are some of the possibilities:

• Stainless steel, which is common as a temporary crown.
• Metal, such as gold or base-metal alloys.
• Porcelain fused to metal, which looks like natural teeth.
• Resin, which is less expensive but less durable.
• All-ceramic, which can be matched to the color of your teeth and are common for front crowns.

What Is the Difference Between Crowns and Implant Crowns?

Many crowns are used to cover broken or decayed teeth. Implant crowns have a slightly different purpose. They can be placed on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth when you are getting a bridge in order to hold the bridge in place. Crowns can also go on top of dental implants to provide the shape and function of a tooth.

What Is the Procedure for Getting Crowns?

You typically need two visits to the dentist when getting a crown. During the first appointment, the dentist may take an x-ray to see exactly where the problem is. You could require a root canal before getting the crown if the decay is deep. To begin preparing the tooth for the crown, the dentist will numb the area and file the tooth down. The dentist takes an impression of the tooth and sends it to the laboratory to make a perfectly fitted crown. You will receive a temporary crown.

Once the crown is made, you will go in for your second visit within a few weeks. The dentist will check to make sure the fit is correct, and will also adjust the color if necessary, if it is a porcelain or ceramic crown. Then the dentist numbs the tooth and cements the new crown in place.