What is a porcelain dental crown?

A porcelain dental crown is a tooth shaped cap that is used to help repair and protect teeth with extensive damage that cannot be restored using a simple filling. They are generally suggested for patients who have had severely decayed or damaged teeth. Porcelain dental crowns match the color of teeth to give a natural appearance. There are many other types of crowns such as gold or silver-colored metal, but porcelain crowns are most popular because they give the most natural look.

How are porcelain crowns placed?

When you and your dentist decide that getting a crown is the right option for you, the dentist will prepare the tooth in a shape that enables her to place a crown. Depending on the damage of the tooth and how much tooth structure is present, the dentist may need to build up the tooth with a strong core filling in order to support the crown. Several impressions will be taken so that our dental laboratory can custom make a crown for your tooth. While you wait for the dental laboratory to create your crown, your dentist will create a temporary crown for you that will be replaced when your final crown is finished. When the crown is finished by the dental laboratory, the dentist will try on the crown to ensure that the fit and bite are correct. The porcelain crown is then cemented to your tooth to give you a beautiful and natural appearance.

With care, porcelain dental crowns can be very durable and have the ability to last a long time. Your dentist will give you special instructions on how you can keep your crown clean with brushing and flossing so that you can help your crown last for years.

Although receiving a crown can take two visits to complete, if your dentist uses CAD-CAM technology such as CEREC®or Trios they may be able to offer you a crown in one visit. Consult with your dentist to see if this is an option for you.