Crowns

Each tooth in the mouth depends on the other teeth for support. If teeth are lost, the ones that remain will suffer making it hard to chew or smile. If you are having trouble with one or more teeth, a crown may be helpful to restore your smile or mouth health.

A crown, sometimes referred to as a "cap", is a dental restoration that helps to restore strength, lost tooth structure, or improve the appearance by covering discolored or misshaped teeth. It is an artificial covering made of white or metal colored material that is cemented over a specially prepared tooth. Crowning is a long-term restorative procedure that can be completed in one or two appointments. Crowns are used to make your damage teeth look and feel like a natural tooth.

Why would a crown be helpful to you?
a. Repair chipped or fractured teeth
b. Help to lighten discolored teeth
c. Straighten teeth
d. Fill gaps
e. Restore or maintain your bite
f. Improve your smile
g. Last longer than any other type of restoration

Crowns are often made by a technician in a dental lab but sometimes can be fabricated in the office by a computer. If a computer-designed crown is to be used, only one appointment is needed. If a laboratory is used to fabricate a crown, two appointments will be needed. The first appointment will be approximately 1 1/2 hours. Between the two appointments a temporary crown will be placed on the tooth. Once the crown returns from the laboratory the temporary will be removed and the crown will be cemented to the tooth.