Porcelain Dental Crowns (Tooth Caps)

Crowns are used in multiple dental procedures, so getting one is a very common treatment.

• Crowns are placed over teeth that need added strength and stability, such as teeth that have a large filling, teeth that have undergone a root canal, or teeth that have cracked or broken.
• A patient who gets a root canal will need a crown after the procedure. Getting a root canal involves clearing out the decayed tooth matter and removing the nerve, so the tooth will need to be protected. A crown is placed to make the tooth strong enough to withstand the daily pressures of chewing.
• They are also used to cover the abutment teeth before placing a fixed bridge.
• In addition, crowns can be used to replace a missing tooth when they are attached to dental implants.

Crowns can be made using various materials, but porcelain crowns provide the most realistic results possible. A porcelain crown will be matched to the rest of the teeth, providing a natural, uniform look.

Crowns prevent patients from losing teeth. Without a protective crown, a weak tooth would not be able to withstand the pressure of chewing. It is always better to preserve natural teeth if at all possible, and crowns enable patients to do that. It can also be used to replace a missing tooth and prevent the patient’s remaining teeth from shifting out of place in the jaw.

If you have had a root canal, some time needs to pass between your surgery and when you get a crown. You’ll receive a temporary crown to wear in the meantime as your mouth heals and your permanent crown is created.

If you are getting a fixed bridge, crowns will be placed on top of the abutment teeth to support the bridge. Some time will need to pass between the time when your teeth were prepared and getting your crowns placed because we’ll need to take impressions of your prepared teeth and then send them to a dental lab where it will be created.

What happens during the crown placement procedure will depend on the purpose the crown will serve, but in general, the steps are as follows:

• Before a dental crown is placed, the patient is given anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable. Patients can also opt to use sedation to help them relax further.
• Then, the tooth that will receive the crown must be prepared; some tooth structure will likely need to be removed to make room for the crown.
• After the tooth is prepared, one of our dentists will take impressions.
• One of our dentists will create a beautiful porcelain crown in a single visit using the CEREC system. This means fewer appointments and much faster results when you choose same-day CEREC crowns.
• Once the permanent crown is ready, it will be cemented to the remaining tooth structure.