Crowns
A dental crown, also known as a cap, is a tooth-shaped covering that is placed over a tooth that has been badly decayed or damaged. Dental crowns are generally used when the damage or decay is so extensive that filling materials cannot make the tooth strong enough. In addition, dental crowns can be used to hold a dental bridge in place or to cover discolored or misshaped teeth.
Types of Dental Crowns
There are three types of dental crowns:
- Metal crowns - this type of dental crown can be made of gold alloy, palladium, nickel alloy, or chromium alloy. Metal crowns are ideal for use on the back teeth.
- Ceramic crowns - these look like normal teeth and are ideal for use on the front teeth.
- Porcelain crowns - this type of dental crown is composed of porcelain fused to metal (PFM). PFM crowns are stronger than ceramic crowns and look like normal teeth.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Depending on the extent of the decay or damage to the tooth, the dentist may perform a root canal before placing a dental crown on the tooth. If this is the case, the dentist may need to build a foundation for the dental crown after the root canal has been performed, also known as a "post-and-core" foundation.
Before the dental crown can be placed on the tooth, the dentist must file the tooth down to make room for it. Then an impression of the tooth and the surrounding teeth will be made. While the dental crown is being created, a temporary acrylic crown will be placed on the tooth.
When the permanent dental crown is ready, the temporary crown is replaced during a separate visit. Dental crowns can last anywhere from seven to 40 years.
Cost of Dental Crowns
The cost of dental crowns depends on the type of crown used and the complexity of the repair in preparation of the process.