A crown is a custom-made covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown usually involves:
- Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it
- Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown
- Making a physical or digital impression of your teeth in order to create the custom crown
- Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it to the tooth while the custom crown is being made
- Removing the temporary crown and fitting the custom-made one onto the tooth
- Ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, and cementing it into place
New technologies have greatly reduced the time needed to make strong, natural-looking crowns. Once the procedure is completed, proper care should be taken to ensure the crown remains in good condition and the teeth and gums are healthy. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime!