Crowns

A crown or dental cap is a treatment that improves and protects the remaining structure of a fractured or decayed tooth by placing a dental implant over it. There are different types of crowns with a variety of materials that help improve the appearance of your smile.

Your dentist will consider tooth’s location, position of your gum, function of the tooth that needs the crown and how much of the tooth is remaining to perform such as treatment. Once an x-ray is performed and the cavity is identified, a base for the crown is created by trimming the tooth to then put a temporal crown while the permanent is made.  The type of material used in crowns range from porcelain, ceramic, zirconia, metal, composite resin and a combination of materials.

Types of dental crowns

Temporary crown: As the name says it, it is a crown that is placed over your tooth with an adhesive that is easily removed for a short period of time when you are waiting for a permanent crown to be made. It is recommended to be very gentle while having this type of crown.  

One day crown: This crown is done in one visit appointment with your dentist using a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) method that design and refine the crown from a block of ceramic.

Onlay or ¾ crown: A type of crown that only covers part of your tooth.

After your permanent crown is placed, brush and floss carefully and avoid eating hard foods to maintain the durability of the crown. If you grind your teeth at night, a night guard is recommended to protect your crown and surrounding teeth.