All About Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a great option for many people because they are easy and fairly cost-effective. Dental crowns are a “cap” or “crown” that is placed over a damaged tooth to help protect it and keep damage from spreading.

There are quite a few reasons someone may need a dental filling and they include:

• Having a cavity too large for a filling.
• Having a cracked or damaged tooth.
• You have had a root canal.
• You want to cover a discolored or misshapen tooth.

Relevant Terms To Dental Crowns

Crown Preparation: The tooth is shaved down so that a crown can be fitted without getting in the way of other teeth.

Margin: The edge of the crown that ends up meeting the tooth surface.

Cusps: The part of the tooth that is raised and used to tear into food.

Partial Crown/Onlay: Restoration meant to cover some cusps but not all of them.

Dental Veneer: Porcelain veneers just cover part of the tooth to hide damage or discoloration to protect it and improve appearance.

Temporary/Provisional: Temporary crown that is used while waiting for a full procedure.

Types & Procedure of Dental Crowns

Crowns can be made of multiple types of materials. These types include gold or metal alloys, stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, composite resin, zirconia, or a porcelain casing with another material in the middle.

When a dental crown is decided on there are a few steps to the procedure. First the tooth is numbed with an anesthesia so pain or discomfort cannot be felt. The tooth is shaved down slightly so that a crown can fit onto the tooth without getting in the way of other teeth and fits properly. An impression of the tooth is made with a mold so that a proper crown can be custom made. Usually a temporary crown is made to be used until the permanent fixture is produced.

Special Considerations

If you are looking to get a dental crown but happen to be pregnant it is better to wait until after pregnancy to minimize any potential risks or issues.