Crowns are dental restorations that cover damaged or weakened teeth. They are necessary when a tooth has decayed, cracked, or been damaged and a filling would not be sufficient to repair it. Crowns are custom-made to fit over the prepared tooth stump using molds of the teeth. They can be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. The crown installation process takes 2-3 visits to the dentist, where the tooth is prepared, an impression is taken, and the crown cemented into place using anesthetic. Crowns are durable and can last 10-15 years when properly cared for.

1. Crowns
Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more
susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, discoloration and
others. If you feel your smile isn’t what it once was, crowns can
help you recover your smile. If your dentist notices that a tooth
is decayed or seems weakened/cracked a crown may be
necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems
with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be
sufficient.
Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or
a full gold crown. To maintain a natural look and feel a
porcelain finished crown is best, as it can be matched to the
shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and
appear just like one of your natural teeth.
The process of installing a crown takes 2-3 visits to the dentist.
On the first visit the tooth will be reshaped by filing down the

2. enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be
given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that
you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been
reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding
teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that your new
crown can be made so that it fits in the spot created for it and
looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving,
your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your
permanent crown is ready.
The crown takes about 2-3 weeks to be returned to your dentist.
At this time you will have another appointment to place and fit
the permanent crown. You will again have a local anesthetic to
numb the area and the tooth will be placed using a cement to
ensure the tooth sets in place. When you look in the mirror, you
will see your old smile back. Crowns are durable and will
usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you
would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and
flossing. Call us today if you would like to learn more about
how crowns can help restore your smile.