Dental Crowns
Strong, natural-looking caps placed over prepared teeth to prevent fracture or restore the shape and function of a damaged tooth.
Crowns are strong, durable caps placed over prepared teeth to prevent fracturing, or to restore the normal shape and function of teeth which are already damaged. Modern dental materials allow teeth with crowns to look very natural, even on teeth that were previously badly compromised.
When a tooth needs a crown
- A cracked tooth, where a crown holds the tooth together and stops the crack propagating toward the root
- A tooth with a large old filling and little structure left to support another one
- A tooth that has had a root canal — it is more brittle afterwards and usually needs the protection
- A heavily worn tooth, from grinding or acid erosion
- A broken cusp, where too much of the biting surface is gone to rebuild with a filling
- A tooth that is badly discolored or misshapen and cannot be corrected more conservatively
What the process involves
The tooth is numbed and shaped so the crown can fit over it with the right thickness of material. We take an impression, choose the shade with you, and fit a temporary crown. The laboratory makes the crown to our specifications, and at the second visit we try it in, check the fit, the contacts against the neighboring teeth, and the bite, then cement it.
The temporary is not as strong as the finished crown. Avoid sticky foods and chew on the other side until the permanent one is in.
How long they last
A well-made crown on a healthy foundation lasts many years. What ends a crown’s life is usually not the crown itself — it is decay at the margin where the crown meets the tooth, or a fracture of the root underneath. That makes the same two things matter most: cleaning thoroughly at the gum line, and controlling grinding.
If you clench or grind, we will recommend a nightguard. It is the cheapest insurance in dentistry.
Crowns and the bite
A crown restores the shape of one tooth inside a system that has adapted around the damage. We check and adjust the bite carefully at fit, and if it feels high or “off” after the anesthetic wears off, we want to know. A quick adjustment prevents soreness and protects the crown.
Related treatments
Dental Bridges
A fixed replacement for a missing tooth, anchored to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap.
Root Canal Treatment
Treatment that saves a tooth when decay, a crack, or a fracture reaches the nerve — removing the source of pain and keeping the tooth in place.
Dental Implants
Man-made roots that support a crown, bridge, or denture — the closest replacement to a natural tooth, placed and restored in one practice.
Have a question about treatment?
Call the office and ask. We would rather answer it now than have you guess.