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Dental Crowns: What, Why, and How
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a fixed prosthetic device used to entirely cover a damaged tooth. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be designed to match the color of your teeth so that you can get a natural appearance. Stronger materials, such as gold or metal alloys, can be more effective, but less sightly, and are more often used on back teeth.
Why get a dental crown?
A dental crown could be necessary in the following situations:
- To protect a weak, decaying tooth from breaking
- To hold a cracked tooth together
- To cover and support a large filling
- To hold a dental bridge in place
- To cover misshapen teeth
- To make a cosmetic modification
How does the operation work?
Receiving a crown takes place in two different steps. In the first step, the dentist must numb your tooth and trim away excess material in order to remove decaying material and get your tooth to its optimal size. Once this is completed, your dentist will make an impression of your tooth. The impression will then be used to fabricate your permanent crown. Depending on whether or not the crown can be fabricated immediately, your dentist may have to place a temporary crown.
Step two is the placement of the permanent crown. This involves placing the crown over the tooth and evaluating its appearance and fit. Once you and your dentist agree that it looks and feels good on your tooth, it’s ready to be cemented. This is as simple as putting a small amount of dental cement into the crown, placing it over your tooth, and then scraping away any excess cement, after giving it a few minutes to dry.
Congratulations, the crowning is complete!
For the premier family dentist serving Gainsville, GA and the surrounding area, contact Jason C. Croft, D.M.D. Our dental practice provides high quality, specialized dental care, as well as a full range of emergency dental treatments. Your oral health is our top priority!