What Does the Process of Getting a Crown Involve?

A crown, or a cap, is a covering for an existing tooth that’s too decayed and fragile for a traditional filling. To protect the remaining part of the tooth and its root, dentists put a crown in place.

You can have your crown installed within one or two dental appointments, depending on whether the crown is made in-house or at a different place.

If you’re wondering whether getting a crown is any different from other dental treatments, read on. Below, we asked Dr. Charley Cheney, our expert at Complete Dental Arts in Newnan, Georgia, to explain what the process of getting a crown involves.

Preparing and choosing the right crown for your needs

The first step is to take an impression of your mouth with a special putty or to take multiple photos of your mouth using a digital scanner to produce the image of your mouth and teeth digitally. This helps with designing the crown so it fits perfectly with the rest of your teeth. During this stage, your crown will also be colored-matched to the rest of your teeth.

Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose from gold crowns, porcelain crowns, zirconia crowns, and porcelain fused with metal crowns. Gold crowns are the most durable, but they’re usually reserved for the back teeth due to their appearance.

Porcelain crowns are usually the most popular due to their aesthetic. However, they’re less durable and can be problematic in people who suffer from bruxism.

Zirconia crowns are aesthetically pleasing and durable, but because they’re so sturdy, they may wear down the teeth they bite against.

And, finally, porcelain fused with metal crowns is budget-friendly and durable. However, they do have a gray line at the gum line, which makes them more noticeable.

Placing the crown

The procedure is straightforward. First, Dr. Cheney removes any decay from the tooth, and then he places some dental cement to keep the crown in place. You won’t feel any discomfort during the procedure, as you’ll be under local anesthesia.

Depending on the materials used and your lifestyle, crowns can last up to 15 years.

Find out if a crown is the right solution for your tooth

Dentists use crowns when a tooth can’t be fixed with a filling or a veneer. If you have damaged teeth, leaving them untreated will ultimately lead to tooth loss. Fortunately, with crowns, even severely damaged teeth with healthy roots can be saved.