Crowns Repair Damaged Teeth

Crowns, also known by some as “caps”, are restorations predominantly made of porcelain, which cover all surfaces of the tooth. They are often the ultimate restoration when replacing large cavities or heavily damaged teeth. A crown can help restore the strength of a tooth.  Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or fix an existing filling that may be becoming loose. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.

In What Situation Will I Need A Crown?

Crowns are useful in a variety of circumstances. Here is a sample of the kinds of situations that require a crown:

• To protect a weak tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
• To restore a broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
• To cover & support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
• To hold a dental bridge in place

How Long Will It Take To Get A Crown?

A single crown usually takes 2 visits. On the first visit we prepare the tooth and take an impression. Then we place a temporary crown on the prepared tooth to protect it. Three weeks later, we remove the temporary crown and permanently cement the final crown.

Caring For Your Crowns

A good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer with proper care. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid plaque or debris around the restoration.

Brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.