Crowns are employed to take the place of missing teeth and are also used to enhance or restore damaged teeth. Sometimes referred to as caps, crowns are designed to cover a damaged tooth completely. Crowns can drastically improve tooth alignment, appearance, and shape as well as strengthening the tooth.
Crowns are used to
- Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
- Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
- Cover a discolored or poorly-shaped tooth
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Cover a dental implant
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Attach a bridge
What does the procedure involve?
Having a crown implanted typically takes 2 or more visits. During the first appointment, a dental professional will perform a thorough cleaning, take x-rays and check for signs of decay or damage. As your crowns need an anchor, it is imperative that some of the tooth foundation is still intact. If any decay or damage exists, it will be removed by your dentist and an impression of the area is taken. The impression will be used to make your temporary crown which will be in place until your second appointment. During the second visit, the permanent crown is installed and your dentist will make sure it is aligned correctly. Finally the shape of the crown may be slightly altered and polished to ensure a perfect match of the bite pattern of your original tooth.
