A crown (also known as a cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface, restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that is so weak or damaged that it cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. Crowns are also used to make cosmetic improvements to discolored, misshapen or poorly aligned teeth.
Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored) crowns are the most popular because they resemble your natural teeth. They are the strongest restorations available and will last many years. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile. To see what all-porcelain crowns look like, click here.
Reasons for crowns:
What does getting a crown involve?
A crown usually requires two appointments. Your first appointment includes preparing the tooth to remove decay and reshaping the surface to create space for the crown. In most instances, the tooth is anesthetized for this procedure. Then, highly accurate molds (or impressions) are taken that will be used by our dental laboratory to create your custom crown. A temporary crown is made to protect your tooth for approximately two weeks until your new crown comes back from our laboratory.
At your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed and your new crown will be carefully fitted to ensure that the spacing and bite are accurate. The crown is then cemented in place and can be used in just a few minutes.
Your crown functions just like a natural tooth. You can chew normally and brush and floss as you normally would.