Crowns

Dental crowns are tooth shaped coverings that cap badly decayed or damaged teeth when fillings will not adequately support them. Crowns can also be used to support dental bridges or cover stained or misshapen teeth, and they can help prevent further decay. In some cases, crowns are placed after root canals have been performed.

Crowns can be made from a variety of substances including porcelain, ceramic and metal. While porcelain crowns tend to be stronger than the others, ceramic crowns tend to look more like natural teeth. Metal crowns are often placed on the back teeth.

If you feel that a crown may be a good option for your tooth, your dentist will perform a complete oral examination, and if this treatment is recommended, your dentist will file the area that the crown will occupy to make room for it. He will then make an impression of your tooth. This process often takes several visits, so you may be given a temporary crown to wear while the permanent one is being made. Permanent crowns can last up to 40 years.