What are Dental Crowns?

A crown, also known as a cap, is a tooth-shaped covering that is placed over a tooth that has been badly decayed or damaged. Crowns are generally used when the damage or decay is so extensive that filling materials cannot make the tooth strong enough. In addition, crowns can be used to hold a bridge in place and to cover discolored or misshaped teeth.

There are three types of dental crowns:

• Metal - this type of crown can be made of gold alloy, palladium, nickel alloy, or chromium alloy. Metal crowns are ideal for use on the back teeth.
• Ceramic - Ceramic crowns look like normal teeth and are ideal for use on the front teeth.
• Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) - PFM crowns are stronger than ceramic crowns and look like normal teeth.

The Dental Crown Procedure

Depending on the extent of the decay or damage to the tooth, Dr. Edderai may perform a root canal before placing a crown on the tooth. If this is the case, we may need to build a foundation for the crown after the root canal has been performed, also known as a "post-and-core" foundation. Before the crown can be placed on the tooth, we must file the tooth down to make room for it. Then an impression of the tooth and the surrounding teeth will be made. While the crown is being created, a temporary acrylic crown will be placed on the tooth. When the permanent crowns are ready, the temporary crowns are replaced at a separate visit. The crown will last anywhere from seven to 40 years.