A tooth that has been damaged, but not lost, a cap or crown can be placed that will cover the damaged portion of the tooth in order to protect it from more damage. If you have had a root canal, have a large filling in your tooth, a tooth that has been broken or if your tooth is otherwise not the way it should be, it may need a crown.
What’s a crown made out of?
Crowns can be made out of a combination of materials, either porcelain, metal or a combination of the two. There are also resin models available that aren’t quite as strong as the other options.
Do crowns require special treatment?
A crown will last approximately ten years and, in that time, you can brush and floss them just like you would your other teeth. They may not necessarily be as strong as the rest of your teeth, however, so you have to take some care and be sure not to bite down on hard objects. Don’t use your teeth to cut things or open anything, either – as you know you should be using scissors or something actually meant for opening things and not your teeth.
How are crowns made?
If you’ve had other procedures done, you may be familiar with some of the steps.
First, your dentist will want to take an impression of your tooth so that they can create a temporary crown, which will protect your tooth until the real crown is ready. This temporary crown probably won’t have the same color or shape as the final product, so don’t panic – it’s not like it’s going to remain in your mouth forever, anyway. You’ll be getting the real thing soon.
Next, your dentist will freeze your mouth and file the tooth down to make room for the incoming crown. Another mold is taken of the filed tooth and its companions, then the temporary crown is placed and you are dismissed until the next visit. Be careful with this crown and follow your dentist’s instructions.
The mould now has its own adventure. It is sent to the lab, where a model of your tooth is made based upon the mould and then a restoration based upon that model is created.
On your next visit to the dentist, the temporary crown is replaced by the permanent one and the dentist then does a thorough check-up to make sure that everything fits, lines up and matches as it is supposed to. If all is well, you’re released into the wild again after the dentist cements the crown in place.
There’s a chance that your tooth may need special treatment – these are just the basic steps. If that’s the case, your experience will differ from what’s outlined here, and that’s okay! Everybody’s different.
How much does a dental crown cost?
It’s difficult to say. The procedure’s cost will vary from city to city, state to state and depending upon whether or not the patient has insurance. They usually average between $700-$1,500, but, again, consult your dentist for more information.
