A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that’s placed over the entire tooth. This is done to cover the tooth and to restore its shape, size, strength, and improve its appearance.
When crowns are cemented into place, they fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Crown Uses
A dental crown can be used to protect a weak tooth from breaking and to cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left. Crowns can also serve the purpose of holding a dental bridge in place, covering a dental implant, or covering misshapen or badly discolored teeth.
Procedure
You’ll usually be required to visit the dentist two times to prepare a tooth for a crown. On the first visit, your dentist may take a few X-rays to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and surrounding bone. If there is extensive decay or if there’s a risk of infection or injury to your tooth’s pulp, a root canal treatment may need to be performed first.
Before the process of making a crown begins, your dentist will anesthetize (numb) the tooth and the gum tissue around the tooth. The tooth receiving the crown is reshaped along the chewing surface and sides to make space for the crown. The type of crown being used will determine how much of your tooth will be reshaped or removed.
If a large area of your tooth is missing, your dentist will use filling material to “build up” the tooth to support the crown.
After your tooth is reshaped, your dentist will use a paste or putty to make an impression of the tooth to receive the crown. Sometimes, impressions are made with a digital scanner. Your dentist will also make impressions of the teeth above or below the one receiving the dental crown to make sure the crown won’t affect your bite.
The impressions or scans are sent to a dental lab where the crown will be manufactured. This process can take two to three weeks. If the crown is made of porcelain, your dentist will also select the shade that most closely matches the color of the neighboring teeth.
During the first visit, your dentist will make a temporary crown to cover and protect the prepared tooth while the crown is being made.
At the second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If everything is acceptable, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and the new crown will be permanently cemented in place.
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Pros
Dental crowns provide solutions to a number of dental problems, including:10
- Supporting a tooth that has been significantly damaged by decay
- Covering a dental implant
- Holding a severely cracked or broken tooth together
- Improving the appearance of a tooth by changing its shape or color
Crowns are long-lasting and can hold up for five to 15 years, depending on maintenance.
Cons
There are risks and complications to be considered when getting a dental crown, including:
- After receiving a crown, your teeth may be sensitive to heat or cold.
- Certain types of crowns, specifically porcelain crowns, can be more vulnerable to chipping.
- If there isn’t enough cement keeping it in place, a crown can get loose or even fall out.
- While uncommon, some people may experience an allergic reaction to the metal used in some crowns.
- If the gums around your crown get sore, irritated, or start bleeding, you could be developing gingivitis or gum disease.