| Also known as a cap, a crown looks and acts like the original tooth while offering more protection and strength than a filling. After a cavity or a fracture, sometimes there isn't enough stable tooth structure to support a larger filling. In this case a crown is recommended because it will cover the entire tooth above the gum line, acting and looking like the outer layer of the tooth. |
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While a patient is numb the tooth above the gum line is shaped so that the crown fits over the tooth. At the initial appointment a temporary crown is placed on the tooth while a permanent crown is fabricated at one of our trusted labs. Most crowns are made with porcelain of a specific shade to match the rest of your teeth, but may also be made with gold or other alloys. Several weeks after the initial appointment a patient returns to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent crown placed. Root canal therapy would also necessitate a crown. In some cases crowns can be used to improve the appearance of teeth where veneers would not suffice. |