Dental Crowns
Dental Crowns, which are also widely known as dental caps, cover damaged or discolored teeth for a more balanced smile. Crowns cover the entire tooth, starting at the gum line and are made to look just like a normal tooth. Depending on preference, Dental Crowns are usually made of gold, porcelain or a combination of both. Though crowns can be used to improve the appearance of a tooth, there main function is not primarily to be cosmetic devices. Dentists recommend patients get crowns to protect or strengthen weakened teeth, or to restore a disfigured tooth to its original shape. Successfully capping a tooth requires buffing away part of a tooth to make room for the crown, so dentists often discourage it as a cosmetic method unless the tooth being replaced is damaged.
Crowns work to effectively strengthen teeth by binding the sides of the weakened tooth together, much the way a splint holds together a broken bone. Large fillings taking up over a third of the tooth and, because of the material they consist of, may weaken that tooth over time; crowns are often used in cases where such weakened teeth threaten to break or deteriorate further. The capping procedure takes place under a local anesthetic. Because the crown is about two millimeters thick, the dentist first shaves this same amount off your existing tooth to avoid awkward-looking, oversized teeth; without anesthetic this could be quite painful.
During the treatment your dentist will also re-shape your tooth into a form upon which a cap can easily sit; at this time, the dentist will then make a replica of your tooth. Usually, this replica will be made out of a putty mold. Once formed, this mold is then sent to a laboratory, where the crown will be made based on this mold. In the case of a porcelain crown, the dentist will choose a shade that closely resembles to the color of the surrounding teeth. Patients will return about two weeks following the initial appointment to have the crown fitted and, once both you and your dentist are satisfied with the ‘look and feel’ of the crown, cemented over your original tooth for a permanent fit. |
