What Is a Dental Crown?
As hard as teeth may be, sometimes they lose their strength. For example, a mouth injury can damage teeth, causing cracks or breaks. Or certain oral diseases can weaken teeth, leaving them vulnerable to injury. When these things occur, the doctors at Sunrise Dental can use a dental crown to protect the tooth from further harm.
What does a dental crown do?
A dental crown is basically a tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged tooth. A crown improves the look of a damaged tooth and gives it additional strength by restoring structural integrity.
A dental crown can:
- Safeguard a weak tooth against breaking
- Restore a tooth that has broken or chipped
- Reinforce a tooth requiring a large filling, when there is not much of the tooth structure left (like during a root canal procedure)
- Secure a dental bridge in place
- Disguise any teeth that may not match the rest of your teeth, such as an implant or discolored tooth
What are the different types of dental crowns?
There are two main types of dental crowns—temporary crowns and permanent crowns. First, we will make a temporary crown out of acrylic at our office, to protect your damaged tooth until a permanent crown can be fitted.
Permanent dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, porcelain, and ceramic. We will suggest a particular material based on the location of your tooth and your overall oral history. Permanent tooth crowns usually last about 15 years. However, with proper care, they can last much longer.
How long does a dental crown procedure take?
If you need a dental crown, the procedure normally takes place in two dental visits. At the first visit, we will scan your mouth or take impressions of your tooth and fit you with a temporary crown. Then, at the second visit, we will fit you with your permanent crown.
First Visit: Preparing the Tooth
During the first visit, we will examine your tooth to make sure it does not have any root or bone issues. Next, we will reshape the tooth for proper placement of the dental crown. Then we take a scan or an impression of the tooth to make your permanent crown. Finally, we fit you with a temporary crown to protect the tooth while you wait for the permanent crown.
Second Visit: Adhering the Permanent Crown
It normally takes between two to three weeks to make a permanent crown. Once your permanent crown is ready, you will come in for a second visit to remove our temporary crown and affix the permanent crown.
If you are going to have a ceramic crown, it is sometimes possible to receive your permanent crown in only one appointment. Here at Sunrise Dental, we use digital impressions and special computer software to create ceramic permanent crowns in-house.
Restorative Dental Crowns in Peoria, Arizona
Living with a weak or cracked tooth can be frustrating and painful. Within a few hours, the skilled dentists at Sunrise Dental can provide you with a temporary crown and give you a long-lasting permanent crown just a few weeks later. If you are living with a tooth that might break or just doesn’t feel right, contact us today to come in for a consultation.
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