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A crown (sometimes called a cap) is a covering that goes on top of a tooth to
strengthen it and improve its appearance. A crown is made for teeth that have
been heavily damaged, that have undergone root canal therapy, or teeth that are
discolored or badly shaped.
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An all porcelain crown on an upper right front tooth |
A porcelain fused to metal crown on a lower left molar |
Making a crown involves two appointments. In the first appointment, your
dentist will make an impression of your tooth, and then anesthetic may be
administered to make the tooth numb. Your dentist will prepare the tooth, a
process that involves removing the outer layer of the tooth, along with any
decay or crack lines. Then a second impression is made of the prepared tooth. At
this point a temporary crown is made and temporarily cemented onto the tooth.
The impression is sent to the laboratory, where a custom permanent crown is
made. A crown can be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or metal.
Then you will be scheduled for your second appointment, where your dentist
will remove the temporary crown and cement the permanent crown. With
proper oral hygiene and care, a crown can last 10 or more years.
When a tooth is lost, the neighboring teeth may shift, there is loss of function and the smile is affected.
There are several options to rectify this problem, including a bridge. A bridge is
a prosthesis that replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth that are attached to
natural teeth.
A porcelain fused to metal bridge to replace a missing back tooth
Fabrication of a bridge involves two or three appointments. The neighboring
teeth are first prepared, and an impression is taken. The impression is sent to
the laboratory, where a custom bridge is made. Once the bridge is returned to
your dentist, an appointment is setup where the bridge is fitted in your mouth,
and then cemented in place.
A bridge requires extra care during cleaning, but with proper oral hygiene can
last 10 or more years.
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We believe the best dentistry is the least amount of treatment necessary to achieve optimum oral and dental health.