Dental Crowns (Caps)

 

A dental crown (or cap) is a cover that encloses all the surfaces of a tooth above the gum line, restoring that tooth to its original shape, function, feel and size. There are several types of crowns, but porcelain (tooth colored) crowns are the most popular because they resemble your natural teeth. Crowns are very durable and, with proper care, will last for many years, but they may eventually have to be replaced due to wear, compromised margin integrity and/or decay.

Dental Crowns are used to restore broken or fractured teeth, teeth that have decayed, teeth that have been root canaled and teeth that have large, fractured fillings.

A crown procedure requires two appointments, sometimes three. The first appointment includes preparing the surfaces of the tooth, removing and cleaning decayed portions, removing portions that have fractured and shaping the surfaces to properly and exactly for a precise fit with your permanent crown. Then highly accurate molds (impressions) are taken to create your custom crown. Another impression is used to create a temporary crown which will stay on your tooth for about 2 weeks or so using temporary cement, while the laboratory fabricates your permanent crown. Once the temporary crown is in place, your bite will be checked and adjusted, if needed, to allow you to bite properly. On the second appointment, your temporary crown is removed, your tooth will be cleaned and the permanent crown will be cemented (using permanent cement) after checking that your spacing and your bite are accurate.

 

To get a dental crown placed today, request an appointment.