A dental crown, also known as a cap, is custom-designed material that is partially or completely placed over the visible portion of your tooth to restore its shape, size, strength and appearance.
A crown can protect a weak or cracked tooth, restore functionality for a tooth that has serious decay, and replace a pre-existing crown. Crowns can also be used to create a lifelike tooth replacement as part of a dental implant. The bottom line is a crown can help keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright.
During a dental crown consultation, our dentist will take impressions of your existing tooth to create the exact size and shape of your crown restoration. You may be given a temporary crown to protect your tooth while the final crown is being made in a dental laboratory.
There are three types of dental crowns: porcelain-fused-to-metal, all-ceramic and gold.
The most often-used type is an all-ceramic crown. This type of crown requires less material because there is no metal involved, a very good option when there is not much room for the crown to be placed. An all-ceramic crown also looks realistic and blends in with your natural teeth.
Once you have chosen the type of crown you want and an impression has been made of your tooth, a lab will create your crown. Your dentist will explain to you the options for local anesthesia (pain killer) that will be used during the procedure.
You will return to our friendly office to have the restoration crown placed over the broken tooth. Our dentist will explain to you how to care for your new crown and the best hygiene habits (including brushing and flossing) that will help keep plaque away from where the crown meets the gum in order to prevent gum disease.
You can extend the lifespan of your crown by not chewing on hard foods, ice or other hard objects. If you have a problem grinding your teeth at night, our dentist can recommend a nighttime mouth guard to help protect your crown.
To find out of you need a crown and what our dentist can do for you, please call XXX-XXX-XXXX to make an appointment today.