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 two visits that are three weeks apart.
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, and six-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.