What is a dental crown?
A dental crown or a tooth cap is a type of dental restoration that is placed on damaged or non-esthetic- stained teeth, to reinforce the teeth and maintain its integrity. The final crown looks and feels like your natural teeth. If well-made it will feel like your own teeth. Porcelain can be perfectly molded to show the original appearance of your natural dentition.
Type of materials used for crowns:
- Full metal crowns: usually fabricated in the posterior- molar- non esthetic region. High gold content precious metal crowns.
- Porcelain fused to metal crowns: the metal substructure is beneath the porcelain layer. Esthetic appearance, however sometimes the metal can show through. These crowns are nickel free- anti -allergenic frames.
- Zirconia crowns: Strong, no metal solutions, ideal for posterior teeth and implant crowns or bridges. Anterior teeth can be done with these materials, however high opacity of these materials is sometimes evident.
- Full porcelain crowns: the most esthetic version of porcelain at our office. Single anterior crowns can be shade matched using these materials. Brand names like e-max is an example of these crowns.
Step by step guide for your crown fabrication appointments:
1st appointment:
o Finding the need for a dental crown at a checkup or after a dentist appointment
o Accepting the proposed treatment plan
2nd appointment:
o Local anesthesia- all these procedures are completely pain free
o Preparation of teeth
o Temporization of the prepared teeth with an esthetic temporary crown to protect from hot, cold and bite forces.
o Impression of your prepared tooth. It can be a digital impression or an analoge one. The dentist will decide which suits better your case.
3rd appointment:
o Delivery of the final crown
