Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth -- to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
When is a Crown Needed?
To protect a weak tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
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To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
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To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left
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To hold a dental bridge in place
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To cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth
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To cover a dental implant
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To make a cosmetic modification
The Procedure
Preparing your tooth.
To prepare your tooth for a crown, the dentist will need to remove some of your natural enamel. This makes space for your new crown and ensures that it will stay in place once bonded. The dentist may also use a filling material to build up certain parts of your tooth.
Next, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth. These may be physical impressions taken with a putty-like material or digital impressions taken with a handheld scanner. The dentist will send these impressions to a dental lab. There, a technician will use them to create your custom dental crown.
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Temporary crown placement.
It usually takes roughly one week for a dental lab to make your new crown. While you wait on your final crown, the dentist will place a temporary one. Temporary crowns are fit to shape with a white complexion.
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Permanent crown placement.
Upon the second visit, the dentist will remove your temporary crown and ensure the shape, color and fit of your new crown. The dentist will then bond the new crown to your tooth using a strong dental cement.