Concourse Dental Group provides custom-made dental crowns made of high-quality, durable materials. Your crown will also have the same colour as your other teeth, blending in seamlessly with your smile.
A crown (dental cap) is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared, existing tooth. This procedure strengthens, restores and improves the appearance of your natural tooth.
A crown is a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully covers the tooth and gives the tooth added strength. In comparison, a filling is a dental restoration that fills in or covers over just a portion of a tooth. Other terms that are used to refer to dental crowns are "dental caps" and "tooth caps".
Reasons why crowns are necessary
A deteriorated tooth, which requires a dental crown, may be alive or devitalised by a root canal. If the tooth is alive, it would need a crown if it previously had a big cavity or a fracture that was maintained far enough from the pulp chamber (nerve). There are several reasons why a tooth would need a crown:
•To protect a weakened tooth (by tooth decay for example) against fracture, or to keep together a cracked tooth.
•To restore an already broken tooth or a severely worn out tooth.
•To restore a tooth that has had a root canal and a post.
•To cover and support a tooth that had a large filling when there isn't enough healthy tooth structure left to be restored by a new filling.
•To cover a tooth that is malformed or severely discoloured.
•To cover a dental implant.
Steps to prepare a crown
Before starting any treatment, the dentist must examine the tooth which needs the crown as well as its x-ray. He or she must determine if there is a cavity present, and whether the tooth needs a root canal.
If a root canal is necessary, it will be performed, ideally, prior to the crown. A root canal also allows placing a dental post on which the crown will hold. If the root canal treatment is not necessary, any cavity should be removed and any old fillings should be replaced on that tooth prior to the crown preparation.
The preparation of a crown is conducted over two appointments at the dentist:
• During the first visit, the dentist shapes the tooth by reducing it slightly all around to create space for the crown. An impression of the tooth is taken to be sent to the dental laboratory where the crown will be prepared. A temporary crown is then placed on the tooth and will remain until the following appointment.
• The second visit is usually shorter and takes place one to two weeks later in order to cement the permanent crown. The dentist removes the temporary crown and checks the adaptation and colour of the permanent crown before installing it with dental cement.
Care for a temporary crown
A temporary crown (or provisional) lasts only a few weeks pending the construction of the permanent crown at the laboratory. It is less robust and requires some care so that it does not break:
•Avoid sticky foods like caramel or chewing gum, which can dislodge the temporary crown of the tooth.
•Avoid hard foods that could fracture the temporary crown.
•Try not to chew on the side of the mouth where the temporary crown is placed.
•If the temporary crown falls or breaks, do not panic, but call your dentist.
Lifespan of a crown
The lifespan can be longer or shorter, depending on oral hygiene, oral care, oral habits, and the material used for the crown (gold versus porcelain). Tooth grinding, chewing on ice or biting your nails are conditions that can cause a crown to break or loosen. If a crown loosens from the tooth without breaking, it can simply be cemented back in its place as long as the tooth does not have any cavities. If a crown has a major fracture, it should ideally be replaced. A minor fracture can sometimes be repaired by the dentist.
Maintenance of a crown
It is important to remember that, even though a crown cannot decay, the tooth below may be exposed to cavities and gum disease. Good oral hygiene should be preserved including tooth brushing and flossing. During dental exams, your dentist checks the state of the tooth, the state of the gums, the condition of the crown and its adaptation. It is recommended to go for regular dental checkups every three to six months to verify the general situation of the mouth and teeth.
A crown (dental cap) is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared, existing tooth. This procedure strengthens, restores and improves the appearance of your natural tooth.
A crown is a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully covers the tooth and gives the tooth added strength. In comparison, a filling is a dental restoration that fills in or covers over just a portion of a tooth. Other terms that are used to refer to dental crowns are "dental caps" and "tooth caps".
Reasons why crowns are necessary
A deteriorated tooth, which requires a dental crown, may be alive or devitalised by a root canal. If the tooth is alive, it would need a crown if it previously had a big cavity or a fracture that was maintained far enough from the pulp chamber (nerve). There are several reasons why a tooth would need a crown:
•To protect a weakened tooth (by tooth decay for example) against fracture, or to keep together a cracked tooth.
•To restore an already broken tooth or a severely worn out tooth.
•To restore a tooth that has had a root canal and a post.
•To cover and support a tooth that had a large filling when there isn't enough healthy tooth structure left to be restored by a new filling.
•To cover a tooth that is malformed or severely discoloured.
•To cover a dental implant.
Steps to prepare a crown
Before starting any treatment, the dentist must examine the tooth which needs the crown as well as its x-ray. He or she must determine if there is a cavity present, and whether the tooth needs a root canal.
If a root canal is necessary, it will be performed, ideally, prior to the crown. A root canal also allows placing a dental post on which the crown will hold. If the root canal treatment is not necessary, any cavity should be removed and any old fillings should be replaced on that tooth prior to the crown preparation.
The preparation of a crown is conducted over two appointments at the dentist:
• During the first visit, the dentist shapes the tooth by reducing it slightly all around to create space for the crown. An impression of the tooth is taken to be sent to the dental laboratory where the crown will be prepared. A temporary crown is then placed on the tooth and will remain until the following appointment.
• The second visit is usually shorter and takes place one to two weeks later in order to cement the permanent crown. The dentist removes the temporary crown and checks the adaptation and colour of the permanent crown before installing it with dental cement.
Care for a temporary crown
A temporary crown (or provisional) lasts only a few weeks pending the construction of the permanent crown at the laboratory. It is less robust and requires some care so that it does not break:
•Avoid sticky foods like caramel or chewing gum, which can dislodge the temporary crown of the tooth.
•Avoid hard foods that could fracture the temporary crown.
•Try not to chew on the side of the mouth where the temporary crown is placed.
•If the temporary crown falls or breaks, do not panic, but call your dentist.
Lifespan of a crown
The lifespan can be longer or shorter, depending on oral hygiene, oral care, oral habits, and the material used for the crown (gold versus porcelain). Tooth grinding, chewing on ice or biting your nails are conditions that can cause a crown to break or loosen. If a crown loosens from the tooth without breaking, it can simply be cemented back in its place as long as the tooth does not have any cavities. If a crown has a major fracture, it should ideally be replaced. A minor fracture can sometimes be repaired by the dentist.
Maintenance of a crown
It is important to remember that, even though a crown cannot decay, the tooth below may be exposed to cavities and gum disease. Good oral hygiene should be preserved including tooth brushing and flossing. During dental exams, your dentist checks the state of the tooth, the state of the gums, the condition of the crown and its adaptation. It is recommended to go for regular dental checkups every three to six months to verify the general situation of the mouth and teeth.
