What a crown is
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap designed to fit over your tooth and restore it to its normal shape, color, appearance, and strength. Tooth enamel is resilient but not impenetrable, and there are plenty of situations that can damage a tooth beyond what a filling can hold.
Choosing a material
Crowns can be made from a few different materials — resin, porcelain, gold, or steel. Each has its own advantages and trade-offs. Dr. Chaudhry will walk through the options and help you choose the crown that’s the best fit for your tooth, your bite, and your budget.
The two-visit process
Getting a dental crown usually takes two visits. At the first visit, the tooth is prepared — that means gently shaving down part of the tooth so the crown will fit comfortably over it. Because the preparation can be a bit involved, it’s always done under local anesthesia to keep you comfortable.
Once the tooth is prepared, we take an impression of your mouth and send it to the dental lab, which uses it to create your custom-made crown. While your permanent crown is being made, you wear a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth.
When your permanent crown is ready, you come back so we can check the shape, color, bite, and overall fit before cementing it into place. A quick polish, and your new restoration is good to go — and with proper care, it can last up to 15 years.