Crowns

What is a crown?

A crown or a cap is a sturdy structure made of metal, porcelain or zirconia that protects the tooth after a significant restoration, root canal, or tooth loss. Crowns sometimes are the best way to protect the tooth from further damage and breakage. The crown will be an exact fit as the original tooth. It will enclose the remaining of the original tooth to restore the appearance and functionality.

Types of crowns:

Full-Gold crown

Precious metals durability and resistance makes them one of the most common materials used for crowns. Often gold alloys among other are used in molars as they don’t resemble the teeth color, but are considered one of the longer-lasting crowns. The price is subject to change according to the metal price in the market.

PFM crowns

PFM or porcelain fused to metal crowns conceals metallic shells under a porcelain layer. The PFM is made to resemble the tooth color and form as closely as possible. The metallic inner shell is not translucent as the teeth and won’t appear as natural looking under light. In certain cases where the porcelain brakes off the metal crown due to a significant amount of pressure, the crown can be easily replaced without compromising the integrity of the tooth.

Zirconia crowns

Zirconia crowns are made of biocompatible materials. Their non-porous structure makes them resistant to chipping, cracking, and staining. They have a smooth exterior, which prevents abrasion to surrounding teeth. Zirconia is highly translucent and natural looking.

Crown procedure:

During the first appointment the dentist will prepare contour the tooth into an ideal shape and size. An impression is taken to prepare the mold for the tooth. A temporary crown (acrylic or metal) will be provided. The mold will be sent to the dental laboratory.

In your second visit, the dentist will cement the final crown and will give you instructions for the aftercare.

If any pain, swelling, discharge occurs make sure to contact your dentist immediately.