Crowns

What are dental crowns?

Crowns are restorations that are designed to surround your entire tooth to provide protection, strength, and cosmetic enhancement. Crowns are made of very durable material that can be custom-tinted to blend perfectly with the surrounding teeth. The most common uses of dental crowns include:

• Hiding large, dark cavities or other defects
• Protecting a broken tooth or a tooth that’s badly decayed
• Strengthening a tooth that’s been treated with a root canal
• Protecting the teeth that are used to support a dental bridge

How is a crown applied?

The crown application process requires two office visits. During the first office visit:

• A small amount of material is removed from your tooth’s surface to ensure there’s plenty of room to accommodate the thickness of the crown once it’s placed on your tooth.
• Next, your dentist will select a tint and make an impression of your tooth to send to the lab that will be creating your crown.
• Finally, a temporary crown will be placed on the tooth to protect it while the permanent crown is being made.

During the second office visit:

• Your dentist will remove the temporary crown
• Your tooth will be carefully cleaned before a strong adhesive is applied

Why do crowns need to be used with a dental bridge?

Bridges use special clips to attach to the teeth on either side of the opening that’s left by one or more missing teeth. When biting or chewing, the pressure on the bridge is absorbed by these supportive teeth. Crowns are used to provide an added layer of protection, so the supporting teeth don’t become damaged.

Are crowns hard to care for?

No, crowns just need to be brushed, flossed, and checked by your dentist at regular intervals to ensure they remain in good shape. It’s also important to avoid chewing or biting on hard objects, ice, or candy to prevent chipping your crown. (That’s also good advice for natural teeth.)

How long will a crown last?

Today’s durable crowns can last 10-15 years or more.

Can crowns be whitened?

No, crowns, veneers, and other restorations usually don’t respond to whitening treatments. If they become discolored, they’ll need to be replaced. Whitening is often recommended prior to crown placement to ensure the crown matches teeth when they’re at their whitest.