If you have missing or damaged teeth, a dental crown can fill the gap.

Crowns also provide dental health benefits by allowing you to chew and process food without difficulty. Dentists place crowns on your teeth, helping to improve the appearance of your teeth and repair any damage your teeth have suffered.  A crown also improves the strength of your teeth so you resume normal activity, such as eating and drinking.

Common Uses for Crowns

Crown are used when patients have cavities that are too large to fill or treat, and are also used to keep dental bridges in place. Crowns protect teeth that have been damaged, cracked, undergone a root canal, and will also cover implants. Crowns fully cover a tooth, providing an improved appearance. There are several types of dental crowns; your dentist will help you decide which type is best for you.

Types of Crowns

The longest lasting type of crown is a metal crown. There are many different types of metal that may be used, such as gold or nickel. A metal crown requires less tooth removal, and the wear to other teeth is lower when using a metal crown as opposed to other crown types. Patients are able to chew and bite better with metal crowns, and this type of crown is not as prone to chipping or breaking. Molars are a good choice for metal crowns.

An all porcelain crown can be matched to the colour of your tooth, making this type of crown attractive for teeth at the front of the mouth. Porcelain crowns are also a good choice for patients with allergies to metal, but may wear down faster than a metal crown or even porcelain fused to metal crown.

Resin crowns are generally more affordable than other types of crowns, but can also deteriorate faster. If you are looking for a crown that will not wear down as quickly, a resin crown is not the best choice.

Crowns may be temporary, or permanent. Use of a temporary crown allows a patient to restore their teeth while waiting for a permanent crown to be made. Your dentist can manufacture a temporary crown in the office, but a permanent crown must be made in a dental lab.

Preparing Your Teeth for Crowns

Preparing for crowns is a multi-step process. At your first office visit, your dentist will take X-rays of your teeth to check the roots or decay of the tooth. If cavities are discovered, the patient may need to undergo a root canal prior to having a crown placed. The first visit is used to determine what work is necessary before the crown is made and placed, your dentist will schedule appointments for these procedures after your first visit.

How Crowns are Made

After your tooth is numbed, your dentist will file the top and sides of the tooth so there is space for the crown. After filing, an impression of the tooth is made, so the crown can be created to match the impression. Your dentist may also make an impression of surrounding top and bottom teeth, so the new crown will fit smoothly against existing teeth. The impression is forwarded to the lab, where a permanent crown is made. If you have decided to use a porcelain crown, your dentist will also color match the crown to your other teeth.

Once the crown is made you will return to Dr. Isen for placement. Permanent crowns are affixed by cement, and you will be numbed for this procedure to alleviate discomfort. Once in place, a crowned tooth should be cared for in the same manner as your other teeth, including regular brushing and flossing.