I was recently asked this by a patient for whom I was about to prepare a tooth for a crown. I was surprised at her question, as I felt I had explained the purpose and nature of the procedure in the appointment before the crown preparation appointment.
So I decided to write a blog about it and explain what a crown is.
Why you might need a crown
If your tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown can be used to restore its shape, appearance and function. You may need a crown if you have a root canal, a large filling in a tooth or a broken tooth.
A crown, also called a cap, is a hollow, artificial tooth used to cover a damaged or decayed tooth. The crown restores the tooth and protects it from further damage. Crowns can also be used to cover a discoloured or misshapen tooth. A tooth that has been fixed with a crown looks and works very much like a natural tooth.
How a crown is done
To make room for the crown, your dentist files down the tooth that needs to be restored.
An impression of the filed-down tooth and nearby teeth is taken. This impression is used to make your final crown. The crown is custom-made in a Dental Laboratory, based on the impression. The final crown will be the right shape for your mouth.
Until your final crown is ready, your dentist places a temporary crown over the tooth that needs to be restored. The temporary crown is made from an impression of your tooth before it was filed down. This temporary crown protects your tooth until the final crown is ready. A temporary crown may not have the same shape and colour as a final crown.
On your next visit, your dentist takes off the temporary crown and puts on the final one. Your dentist checks to make sure the crown is the right fit, shape, colour and bite. If it is, your dentist cements the crown into place.
These are the steps dentists most often follow in making a crown, but your tooth may need other care. You may need orthodontic treatment, gum treatment or root canal treatment.
Your dentist will explain these steps for you.
Different Types of Crowns
Crowns are made from a variety of materials, the most common being ceramic and porcelain, all-porcelain, precious metal and porcelain, and yellow gold. Your dentist will advise on the best material for your crown, depending on the tooth to be restored.
Crowns are strong and generally last for about 10 years or longer if you take good care of them. So of course, you should brush and floss your crown, just like you clean your natural teeth.
Any questions? Please ask your dentist or one of our Patient Advisors.
Written By Aoife O’donoghue – Dentist