What are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown is a restoration that helps to restore and cover a compromised tooth. If a tooth breaks, cracked or becomes severely decayed or compromised by a filling, it should be crowned to prevent further damage. Crowns can be made out of porcelain, ceramic and even a mixture of porcelain fused to metal. We even offer same-day CEREC crowns to prevent the need for a second appointment.

Why is a Dental Crown needed?

The reason you might need a dental crown is because a tooth has cracked or broken. This leaves the tooth vulnerable to future damage and can create sharp and jagged edges. Likewise, we might recommend having a crown placed because a tooth has a big area of decay or has a larger filling in it. Crowning a tooth provides cosmetic and aesthetic benefits as well as restorative advantages.

Who is a candidate for Dental Crowns?

We will examine your teeth to help in determining if a crown is needed. We look for teeth that are damaged, have been recently root canaled or that might have larger fillings in them. If we feel you might benefit from a crown, it’s a good idea to have the procedure done as soon as possible. Older crowns can be removed and then replaced in our office at your own convenience.

What happens during the Dental Crown procedure?

The first step is to numb the area of your mouth that needs the crown. We then shape and file down the tooth, which provides it with enough room for the crown to be placed. We then take impressions and use these to make a temporary restoration and a permanent one. You’ll go home from the first appointment with the temporary crown in place. You will then come back in after about one to two weeks to have the permanent one placed over the tooth. For our CEREC crowns, we make the permanent at the initial appointment using state-of-the-art technology. This eliminates the need for a second visit into our office.

If you think you might need a new dental crown, call our office today so that we can get you in for a consultation appointment as soon as possible.