Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, discoloration and others. If you feel your smile isn’t what it once was, crowns can help you recover your smile. If your dentist notices that a tooth is decayed or seems weakened/cracked a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be sufficient.
Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or a full gold crown. To maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is best, as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and appear just like one of your natural teeth.
Procedure
When we have decided to go ahead with a full crown restoration, we will set aside 1-3 appointments for the entire process. Although the majority of crowns are completed in one visit, there is sometimes a need for a second or third visit when we use a lab made crown.
The procedure begins with the removal of all decay in the tooth. Once we have removed the decay, we will take an optical image of the tooth. We then use this image to create a crown on our CEREC machine. This takes about 15-25 minutes for the crown to be fabricated. At this time we will fit the crown, do any necessary adjustments, bond and polish the restoration. The whole process usually takes about one and a half hours.
Sometimes, we need to take an impression and send the crown to a lab for fabrication. This is normally done for anterior esthetic crowns and gold crowns. This impression will be sent to our lab where your new restoration will be crafted. While this new tooth is created, we will provide you with a temporary restoration. Our temporary restorations will resemble your natural teeth so that you can continue with your daily life without worrying about a missing or incompatible tooth.
During your second visit to the office, we will proceed with the placement of your final restoration. This crown will be fitted comfortably into the mouth. We will make every effort to ensure that the new tooth feels exactly like one of your natural teeth. The final step in the process is to cement the crown into your mouth, leaving you with a beautifully restored smile.
