An Overview of Crowns & Bridges
A crown (cap) is a restoration that is placed on teeth that have lost a lot of their structure. There are various types of crowns, ranging from full porcelain to full metal. Your dentist will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each kind for you.
The process of making a crown includes a number of steps, beginning with preparing and taking impressions of the tooth/teeth involved. A temporary crown or bridge is then placed on your teeth. Meanwhile, the impressions are sent to the lab where a mold of the teeth is poured and the work begins. The completed work is sent back to the office; after inspection and any necessary adjustments, it is cemented onto your teeth.
- To restore fractured teeth
- To protect weak teeth from fracturing
- To support a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
- To conceal badly shaped or discolored teeth
- To strengthen teeth following a root canal (teeth tend to become brittle and are more prone to fracture)
- To disguise extensive damage caused by decay
- To attach a bridge
- To cover a dental implant
