Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are very popular because they can be used for a wide variety of dental issues and they look very natural. A crown covers the entire surface area of the tooth and restores the tooth to its original structure. Porcelain crowns are custom made to match the shape, size and color of the original tooth. Many times, it is impossible to tell a porcelain crowned tooth from a real one.
Reasons for porcelain crowns:
- To protect a weak tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
- To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
- To hold a dental bridge in place
- To cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth
- To cover a dental implant
What to expect…
A crown procedure is usually done in two visits. Your first visit will include taking several highly accurate molds that will be used to create your custom crown. A mold will also be used to create a temporary crown which will stay on your tooth for approximately two weeks until your new crown is fabricated by a dental laboratory. While the tooth is numb, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown. Once these details are accomplished, your temporary crown will be placed with temporary cement and your bite will be checked to ensure you are biting properly.
At your second visit, your dentist will remove your temporary crown and check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If everything is acceptable, a local anesthetic may be used to numb the tooth and the new crown is permanently cemented in place.