A crown (or cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.
Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored crown) are the most popular, because they resemble your natural teeth. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.
Reasons for crowns:
What does getting a crown involve?
We offer single visit crowns using CAD/CAM technology and our in office CEREC dental lab. Using a computer connected BluRay intra-oral camera, pictures of your prepared tooth are taken and rendered in 3D software. A restoration is then designed on the computer by Dr. Niebergall and staff, then sent to an in-office 3-axis milling machine where the inlay, onlay, crown, or veneer is milled from a block of high strength porcelain or ceramic material. Custom shading can then be achieved at the chair and then fired in a glazing oven. The final restoration is then cemented or bonded to the tooth while still under anesthesia. All done in one visit, no second appointment, no troublesome temporary crowns and no second shot!
In some cases a crown procedure requires two appointments. Your first appointment will include taking several highly accurate molds (or impressions) that will be used to create your custom crown. A mold will also be used to create a temporary crown which will stay on your tooth for approximately two weeks until your new crown is fabricated by a dental laboratory.
While the tooth is numb, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown. Once these details are accomplished, your temporary crown will be placed with temporary cement and your bite will be checked to ensure you are biting properly.
At your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed to ensure the spacing and bite are accurate.
You will be given care instructions and encouraged to have regular dental visits to check your new crown.
Please check out our Dental Videos library for more information.