Understanding Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a common restorative application. The crown, which is also called a cap, is used to restore the natural crown or chewing surface of a tooth.

The crowns are used to encircle the entire area of the natural tooth that rests above the gum line. Here is a bit of information about dental crowns to help you better understand them.

Crowns Are Customizable

Dental crowns are not one-size-fits-all applications. The prosthetic devices are customizable. Here are a few characteristics of a crown that are often unique based on the needs of the patient:

Color. The color of a crown can be customized. If the crown is made of a tooth-colored material, the specific hue of the appliance can be matched to the color of the patient's natural teeth.

Material. A crown can be fabricated from a variety of materials, such as resin, stainless steel, porcelain-over-metal, all-porcelain, or metal alloy. Still, the tooth-colored materials, which include resin, porcelain-over-metal, and all-porcelain, are typically preferred when treating a tooth that is visible when a person smiles. Their metal counterparts are frequently used for the back teeth or for pediatric teeth.

Fit. Every person's mouth is unique. Thus, in order to fit a patient's mouth, a dental crown must be designed from a mold or impression of the patient's oral cavity. 

Crowns Are Used For Many Different Reasons

There are many different reasons that your dentist may apply a dental crown. Here are a few of them:

  • Covering a cracked or chipped tooth
  • Anchoring a fixed bridge
  • Fortifying a tooth after a root canal procedure
  • Covering a dental implant after the attachment of an abutment
  • Concealing the blemishes of a natural crown
  • Restoring a tooth that has a large cavity 

The Placement of a Dental Crown Is a Process

Before you can receive a dental crown, your teeth must be x-rayed to ensure that your tooth material and adjacent soft tissues are healthy and strong enough to support the placement of the crown. Once the stability of the tooth is confirmed, the tooth is anesthetized and reshaped for the crown's installation. 

After the tooth is reshaped, a mold is made of the upper and lower palates. The dental lab uses the mold to create a crown that fits perfectly in the mouth. A temporary crown may be applied until the fabrication of the permanent crown is complete.

To learn more about dental crowns, schedule a consultation with family dentistry office in your local area.

Share