You have probably heard someone tell you that they are receiving a dental crown treatment. Perhaps you have crowns in your mouth or your dentist is considering it and you do not know exactly what it is. We will summarize briefly some general considerations of this common procedure.
Usually, the type of restoration that your dentist will recommend for any particular tooth will take in account the amount and quality of dental structure. He will also consider the amount of force the tooth will receive and esthetic requirements. With this information he will be able to recommend one of many available dental treatment options.
A crown is a full coverage restoration. This means that it involves every visible surface of a tooth and for this reason is the stronger and most invasive of all the options. The treatment requires a moderate reduction of dental structure to achieve a natural looking restoration and it is fabricated indirectly. This is why they are indicated on teeth that are quite destroyed by decay or trauma or are at a high risk of fracture. They are also recommended when it is necessary to considerably alter the tooth’s shape, size, proportion, color o appearance. There are currently several materials available for the construction of crowns including full metal, porcelain fused to metal or totally ceramic options. Your dentist should help you in the decision.
Once the decision to restore teeth with crowns is made, your dentist will reduce circumferentially the tooth. He will then take an impression of your teeth and place a temporary crown usually plastic, so you can comfortably eat. This impression is sent to a dental laboratory and there the final restoration will be constructed. Once this process is completed, the dentist will cement it on your tooth and this way he will restore function and esthetics of the involved teeth.
[bafg id=”8910″]