A crown is a permanent covering that fits over your tooth that is either decayed, cracked or broken or has had root canal treatment. Crowns can be made out of a variety of materials such as porcelain, gold, noble metals or a combination of these materials. Porcelain has the most natural appearance because it is tooth colored.
The process for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numbing the tooth to prepare it for the crown.
- Reducing the tooth structure and removing any decay that is present.
- Taking an impression of the remaining structure to send to the dental laboratory where the crown will be fabricated.
- Making a temporary crown out of an acrylic material and cementing it with temporary cement for you to wear while your permanent crown is being made.
- Verifying fit and color and then cementing permanent crown. This will be done only after ensuring the patient is satisfied with their new crown.
The entire process generally takes 2 visits that are 3 weeks apart.
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, and 6 month check-ups at your dental office, are required to maintain a healthy mouth. Given proper care, your crowns can last for many years, sometimes even a lifetime.