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Crowns, also called caps, are covers for teeth that are cracked or damaged due to decay. If a tooth is too severely damaged to be fixed by a filling, Dr. Gradeless will turn to a crown to repair the tooth and protect it from future damage.
Not quite, but crowns can also be used to cover misshapen or discolored teeth. The main difference is that a crown sits on top of the tooth while a veneer covers it in its entirety.
Crowns can be made of all metal, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), porcelain fused to zirconia, or all ceramic.
Crowns can last up to 40 years, but seven is the recommended length before getting a new one. While the crown itself might be in good shape after seven years, the tooth underneath may not be. It’s important to maintain good oral hygiene to help your crown last longer and to prevent cavities from forming in the tooth underneath.
Dr. Gradeless will be sure to take you through each specific step when it’s decided that you need a crown. As a general overview, first, the tooth will be filed down to make room for the crown. All-metal crowns require less filing down because they are thinner and can fit over a tooth more easily. Like veneers and clear aligners, an impression of the tooth will need to be made to produce the perfect fit. Though each patient’s situation is different, getting a crown will likely take two visits to our office: first, to get a temporary crown while the permanent one is being created, and second, for the permanent crown to be placed.
