Crowns
Online Dental Education Library
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.
Root Canal Procedure – Molar |
Root Canal With A Crown |
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Cast Post and Core with Crown |
Crown - Prep of Damaged Tooth |
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Progression of Tooth Decay |
Veneers |
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Whitening with Trays |
Bone Grafting - Socket Preservation |
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Effects of Single Tooth Loss |
Implant Placement into Socket |
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Implant vs. Bridge |
Single Implant - Upper Posterior |
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Sinus Lift - Lateral |
Sinus Lift - Vertical |
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Three Unit Bridge |
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Impacted 3rd Molar - Infected |
Normal TMJ Function |
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Cleaning Braces with Floss |
Crown Lengthening - Overview |
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Horizontal Bone Loss |
Periodontal Disease |
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Pocket Reduction Procedure |
Root Coverage Graft |
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Scaling Calculus |
Vertical Bone Loss |
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Brushing with Electric Tooth Brush |
Brushing Your Teeth |
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Cleaning a Bridge |
Cleaning a Bridge - Implant Supported |
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Dental Sealants (No Drill) |
Flossing Techniques |
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Fluoride Treatment |
Night Guard |
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Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth.
Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.
Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
Procedures
A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. A cast is made of the existing tooth and an impression is made. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place.
Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas.
Caring For Your Crowns
With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration.
Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.
