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Crowns (Caps)
A crown reinforces and strengthens a tooth by covering it. The tooth may have broken a piece off, had an oversized filling, or was weakened internally by a root canal procedure.
There are several types of crowns: all porcelain metal frame crowns are bonded directly to teeth; all porcelain crowns are cut from zirconium; and, glass crowns bonded to teeth (aesthetically superior but weaker). The dentist and patient will make the decision as to which one is best for the patient.
Developing a crown involves several phases. First, the dentist prepares the tooth and a temporary is fabricated and used to temporize the tooth while the crown is being processed in a dental laboratory. Second, the permanent crown is inserted. Failing to return to have the permanent crown placed can cause damage to the underlying tooth due to weakness and poor fit of the temporary crown.
