A crown (or cap) is an artificial covering which fits over an existing tooth. It may be made of porcelain, metal or a combination of both. A crown may be used to restore the appearance of a broken, cracked, heavily filled or worn tooth, or for cosmetic reasons.
What happens?
your dentist may take X-rays to assess your mouth
a thin layer of tooth is trimmed away from the surface
a shade guide may be used to select the correct colour of porcelain
impressions of the prepared tooth and teeth of the opposite jaw are taken and sent to the laboratory, where the crown is constructed
a temporary crown may be fitted to protect the prepared tooth between visits (avoid hard or sticky food and keep the temporary crown clean)
How is it fitted?
the temporary crown is removed at the next visit
the crown is checked for comfort, fit and colour
if you and your dentist are happy with the look and feel of the crown, it will be permanently fixed in place with cement
