Crowns are designed to cover the entire visible portion of a tooth in order to act as the tooth’s completely new outer surface. A dental crown is most commonly used when a tooth is broken or decayed to such an extent that fillings are unable to repair the problem. As a protective shell, a crown shields the damaged or decayed tooth in order to strengthen and improve it’s appearance. Crowns are also great for restoring a tooth to its original shape, especially for teeth that have been chipped or broken. While there is a variety of materials available, the most common crowns will have a mixture of porcelain for a look and feel that is similar to the natural tooth.
How it’s done
Upon your first visit, the dentist will reshape the tooth and take impressions for a customized crown. In order to reshape the tooth, the dentist must remove a portion of the tooth so that the crown will fit properly. Following the reshaping, a special material is prepared to create an impression of your tooth. This impression will be sent to a dental laboratory and be made into your own permanent crown. Between visits, the dentist will provide you with a temporary crown in order to protect and cover your tooth.
During your second visit, the dentists will remove the temporary crown and fit the newly received permanent one. Before cementing the permanent crown in place, your Antioch dentist will ensure that it fits comfortably and matches the color of your teeth.