Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is severely decayed, damaged or cracked and cannot be repaired adequately with a filling. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it can be less durable.

The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:

Numbing the tooth so we can remove the decay in it.
Restoring the tooth with a core build-up. Re-sculpting the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
Taking an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes two weeks at our laboratory).
Fabricating a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
Two weeks after the preparation appointment, the dentist removes the temporary crown and fits the permanent one onto the tooth.
After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place.

This process generally consists of 2 visits over a two week period. Sometimes it can consist of 3-4 visits over a three to four week period.

Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.