A crown (or cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.
Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored crown) are the most popular, because they resemble your natural teeth. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.
Reasons for crowns:
What does getting a crown involve?
A crown procedure usually requires two appointments in most offices. But we use a state of the art computer aided design machine called CEREC. This allows us to start and complete you crown in one visit.
While the tooth is numb, I will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit a crown. Once these details are accomplished an optical impression is taken with the CEREC computer and the crown is designed on this computer. The next step is to mill the crown from a ceramic block, E.max or Enamic in my office. At this time the crown is ready to try on your tooth to check the fit. If the fit is good it will be fired in a ceramic oven if E.max is used or polished and bonded to the tooth if Enamic is used. Most all patients are very interested in this high tech procedure as they are having it done on them.
You will be given care instructions and encouraged to have regular dental visits to check your new crown.