Wearing A Crown
A crown can be used to repair teeth that are misshapen, damaged, or weakened.
A crown, sometimes called a cap, is a tooth-shaped restoration that fits over an existing tooth or an artificial tooth root, called an implant. It can be used in several situations:
▪To cover a misshaped, damaged, or discolored tooth
▪To provide a hard outer shield to a tooth that is weakened because of a large filling or a dental treatment, like a root canal
▪When mounted on a dental implant, to fill a space left by a missing tooth
▪On either side of an artificial tooth to support a bridge.
Choosing The Right Material
A crown can be made to look like the tooth it is replacing. Often, it is made with a tooth-colored material that matches your teeth. Tooth-colored crowns can be made out of ceramic, porcelain, or composite resin. In some cases, a metal crown will be placed. Metal crowns can be made with gold or a silver-colored metal, like stainless steel or nickel. You and your dentist can talk about the type of material that will be best for your crown. Some factors you might consider include
▪The location of the crown and how much of it will show when you smile
▪The function of the crown, for example, whether it will it be in the back where there is a lot of pressure during chewing
▪The color and appearance of the surrounding teeth
▪The cost.
You may also talk about insurance coverage with your dentist. Some of these materials are more expensive than others.
Placing A Crown
Some crowns, like those made of stainless steel, are already tooth shaped and can be placed in 1 appointment. Others, like those made of composite resin, require 2 or more appointments to complete treatment. For example, when being placed over a natural tooth, your dentist will need to prepare the tooth that is serving as the base. That tooth may need to have some structure removed, or it may need to be built up with dental materials so that the crown will fit snugly and in line with the surrounding teeth.
Once the tooth is prepared, your dentist will likely make an impression. Most often, the dentist will use a mouth-shaped tray full of a thick liquid that quickly turns to a rubbery solid. He or she will place the tray in your mouth to get an impression of the space where the crown will fit.
Once the impression has been made, it is filled with a plaster material that makes a model for a dental laboratory to fit with a crown. Some dental offices have computers that can make the crown in 1 appointment without an impression.
It may take as long as 2 weeks to make the permanent crown using an impression. To protect your mouth during that time, your dentist may make a temporary crown.