Crowns

Crowns can be used in any of the following situations:

• When a tooth that has been previously filled has continued to decay and there is not enough healthy tooth left to support another filling
• When a tooth has been weakened by a crack or break
• When a dental bridge needs to be attached
• When a patient is receiving dental implants to restore lost teeth
• When a tooth is irregularly shaped
• When a tooth has had a root canal and needs to be covered and protected
• To improve various cosmetic issues

Crowns can be made of various materials including:

• Stainless Steel – These types of dental crowns are a cost-effective way of protecting the teeth of adults who are waiting for permanent crowns or for children who have severe tooth decay in one or more of their baby teeth.
• Metal – If you’ve ever seen someone with gold molars, they have dental crowns. Metal crowns such as gold alloy, nickel or chromium are used when a patient requires extra support, such as in the molar area. Metal can stand up to heavy force used when biting or chewing and tend to be the longest-lasting and most durable type of crown.
• Porcelain and Metal – While metal crowns can’t be designed to match the color of the rest of your teeth, porcelain fused to metal crowns can be and look the most natural. Dentists prefer these for the repair of the front or back teeth.
• Porcelain or Ceramic – Like their porcelain and metal cousins, pure porcelain crowns are easily matched to a patient’s tooth color. The lack of metal means they are not as strong, but they are a good choice for people with allergies or people who require a crown in a front tooth.
• Resin – These types of crowns are appealing because they are inexpensive, but they are the weakest of all crown material and are the most prone to breaking.

Crowns can also be temporary or permanent. Dr. Khorshid may create a temporary crown for a patient while he waits for the permanent crown to be finished in the dental lab. Temporary crowns help protect the tooth and help keep the patient from feeling self-conscious about their smile during the waiting period.

If Dr. Khorshid has determined that a dental crown is required, the tooth receiving the cap will need to first be prepared. The surrounding area will be numbed and the tooth will be filed down so that the cap will fit over tooth and will blend in with the rest of the patient’s teeth.

Once the area is filed down, an impression will be made of the tooth so that a mold can be made for the new crown. Impressions will also be made of the surrounding teeth, both upper and lower so that the patient’s bite will not be affected by the new tooth surface.

After the impressions are made, the lab will create the crown out of the material agreed upon by the patient and Dr. Khorshid. He will fit the patient with a temporary crown to protect the area in the meantime. When the new crown is ready, the patient will return to the office where Dr. K will ensure the color and fit of the dental crown before cementing it into place.