Crowns & Bridges

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that has either become decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, or a mix of these materials. Porcelain has the most natural appearance, as it mimics the enamel of a tooth. A careful diagnosis by the doctors is necessary to determine which type of crown or bridge restoration is best for your specific need.

The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:

• Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
• Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
• Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks).
• Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created. This will protect your tooth and keep it positioned properly.
• Trying in the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
• After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit,and bite, the dentist cements it into place temproarily to allow you to function with your new tooth before permantly cementing it to position.

Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.