Crowns Dental Crowns, when cemented in place fully replace the visible portion of a tooth but rely on your original root structure for support.  Crowns have often been referred to as "caps" because they form a cap over your tooth.   They can be made of porcelain, gold, metal alloys, or a combination. The reasons you may need a crown include; - Restoring a tooth weakened by decay - Restoring a tooth badly worn down - To hold together parts of a cracked tooth - Covering misshapen teeth - Covering badly stained teeth - Holding a bridge in place - To cover an implant with a tooth - Large filings have weakened a tooth

Can you guess which tooth is a crown? (Place mouse over image for answer)

What are the steps in placing a Crown? Crowns generally require two visits. During your first visit your dentist typically will take X-Rays to make sure that is no infection or damage to the tooth's dentin.  If there is, you may be sent for a root canal before your crown work can proceed. Your will receive a local anesthetic so that your dental work will be pain free.  Your dentist will remove tooth material to make room for the new crown to sit.  In some cases, a resin filling material may be added to your tooth to give it enough structure to support the crown. Dental impressions of your mouth will be taken and sent to a Dental Laboratory.  They will construct your crown and check it's function using models made from the impressions.  Your crown is generally ready in about two weeks. While waiting for your crown to be made, your dentist will fabricate an acrylic "temporary crown" on the tooth.  It will be secured with a temporary cement.  Care must be taken not to chew sticky or excessively hard foods while the temporary crown is in place.  In addition, dental floss must be passed through the spaces between the teeth rather than pulled out at the top. When your crown is ready, it will be cemented in place.  Your dentist will then make any final bite adjustments that may be required by removing small amounts of procelain or metal from the crown. Care of your new crown is similar to your regular teeth.  Flossing is very important to keep the underlying gum and tooth structure healthy. If your new crown was placed on a tooth that did not have a root canal, you may experience some initial tooth sensitivity.  Your dentist may suggest some special toothpaste designed to help reduce sensitivity.

What are the Pros and Cons of the  various Crown Materials? Porcelain fused to metal Crowns These crowns are a good choice for either front or back teeth.  They are moderate in price, and strong enough to take the heavier chewing forces found with back molars. They have an excellent cosmetic appearance, however may not appear quite as natural as all porcelain or ceramic crowns, particularly at the base.  Because the layer of porcelain is thin, it can sometimes chip.  The porcelain layer can also cause wear in the teeth it opposes. Metal Crowns Gold and other metal crowns are considered the strongest of all crown types.  They are particularly appropriate for back molars subjected to high chewing forces.  They are also helpful for patients with a history of grinding (bruxism) their teeth.  They cause the least amount of wear on opposing teeth.  Gold crowns also require less of your natural tooth structure to be removed, last the longest of all crown types, but are the most expensive.  They are typically not appropriate for front teeth because of their metallic color. Resin Crowns Resin crowns are the least expensive type of crown.  They have the advantage of being able to match your natural tooth shade fairly closely.  However, they wear faster than other crown types and can occasionally fracture. All Ceramic or all Porcelain Crowns These crowns have the most natural appearance because of their translucency, and can match your natural teeth shade most closely .  They are an excellent choice for front teeth because of appearance.  They lack the strength of Metal or Porcelain-fused-to-Metal crowns so they are less appropriate for back teeth.  They also can cause wear on opposing teeth.

Your Cosmetic Dentist will discuss with you their recommendations for crown types.  Factors that are considered include age, health, economics, location of the tooth, and dental problems such as bruxism.  Depending on type, crowns can last for 10 to 15 years if properly cared for.

Before and after example of a dental makeover using Crowns