Crowns

Dental crowns are commonly referred to as ‘dental caps’ as they cover the entire surface of a tooth. They are widely
used as a restorative appliance to treat teeth that are either cracked, chipped, severely worn out, badly discolored or
weak due to external trauma or lack of nourishment.

What are the advantages of getting a crown?

• Crowns are made from tooth-colored ceramic material. They can be customized in such a way that they
  would perfectly mimic the appearance of the natural teeth in terms of color, texture, translucency, and
  contour.
• The material used to fabricate the crown is of dental-grade. It is highly durable, stain-resistant, and wouldn’t
  chip or break easily.
• Crowns can be used for a variety of purposes such as treating minor to deep cracks, reshaping chipped
  teeth, reducing the space between excessively spaced teeth, lengthening the crown of severely worn out
  teeth, etc.
• They are quite long-lasting. With proper care, they would easily last for several years together.
• Since crowns are cemented on to the existing teeth, they allow us to save the natural tissues of the mouth
  as much as possible.
• Whenever a tooth is too weak to withstand the stresses while biting and chewing food, it may crumble. This
  is often encountered when a tooth has undergone root canal therapy. Crowns can help to hold such teeth
  intact and prevent their failure.

How is a dental crown bonded?

Several factors influence the candidacy to get a crown. Some of them are cavities, oral infections, receding of gums,
damage to the teeth, the extent of wear, existing restorations, overall health, etc. After a thorough screening of the
oral cavity, we would decide whether or not you are a right candidate for a crown.

A thin layer of enamel will be removed from the tooth in order to accommodate the crown. If this isn’t done, the crown
would look too big on the existing tooth structure. Next, a highly precise mold of the tooth will be taken to serve as a
reference for fabricating the crown. X-rays and scans may also be taken to get a better view of the tooth. All the data
obtained will be sent to a dental laboratory where the crown will be fabricated. Meanwhile, a temporary crown may be
placed on the tooth.

Once the permanent crown is fabricated and ready to be bonded, which would take a couple of weeks’ time, you will
be prepared for the bonding procedure. The temporary crown will be removed and the tooth will be cleaned
thoroughly. An etching solution will be applied to it to roughen its surface. The crown will be placed on the tooth and
bonded firmly using dental adhesives. Any changes in alignment, if required, will be made prior to hardening the
adhesive using a curing light. Finally, a bite test will be carried out to check the fit and comfort of the restoration.

Call us at (262) 886-9440 or schedule an online appointment to know more about crowns from our dentists.