Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully cup over the portion of a tooth which lies at and above the gum line. In comparison, fillings are dental restorations that are used to fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface.
Crowns can be made out of porcelain (or some other ceramic material), gold (or metal alloys), or a combination of both. Dental crowns are often referred to as "dental caps" or "tooth caps."
Crowns are used to repair badly decayed, broken, discolored, or misaligned teeth. Crowns completely cover teeth, restoring them to their natural size, shape and function. The location of the crown in the mouth usually dictates the type of material used. The tooth under the crown is reduced in size. The crown will be permanently cemented over the reduced tooth. While you are waiting for the permanent crown to be fabricated, Dr. DelCastillo will provide you with a temporary one to wear. Crowns have a much longer life span than bonding, resist stains better, hold their color, and resist chipping and cracking. Crowns, however, take longer to prepare than bonding and are not reversible. Dr. DelCastillo can recommend which type of restoration is best for your particular situation.
If the tooth is severely decayed, or little tooth structure remains, it may be necessary to place a metal post into the tooth to support the crown. If this is the case, root canal therapy will be performed.