Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are custom-made restorations that cover a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its function, and appearance. Crafted from durable materials such as porcelain, metal, or a combination of both, they provide long-lasting protection for teeth that have undergone extensive decay, fractures, or extensive dental procedures like root canals.
When would you need a dental crown?
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Strengthen and protect a tooth if extensive decay hasn’t left enough healthy tooth structure for a traditional filling.
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Protect a cracked, broken, or brittle tooth from further damage.
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Restore and reinforce a tooth after a root canal procedure.
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Cover a deeply discolored or irregularly shaped tooth.
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Complete a dental implant procedure.
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Serve as an anchor for a dental bridge.
Crown Materials
​Crowns are made of several different materials. Your choice of crown can be based on factors such as durability, visibility, natural appearance, and cost:
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Metal crowns: Because they are alloys of gold, platinum, or other metals, these crowns are the longest lasting. They’re often chosen for back molars where they are less visible.
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All-porcelain/All-ceramic: These color-matched, translucent crowns are the most realistic looking option, especially for front teeth. They are also suitable for those with metal allergies.
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Zirconia : Strong, natural-looking, and biocompatible, making them one of the best options for long-lasting, durable, and aesthetic tooth restoration.
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Porcelain fused to metal: These crowns have a porcelain layer applied over a metal core. Matched to your natural enamel color, these crowns look very realistic, although they’re not as translucent as all-porcelain crowns.
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Stainless steel: Typically used for baby teeth, pre-formed stainless steel crowns are a durable, cost-effective option when a crown is needed for a primary tooth.
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Composite resin: Made of color-matched resin, these crowns are a more affordable choice than porcelain or metal. Generally, however, they are only used as temporary crowns since they’re much less durable than other options.
In the Hammer Test, a solid zirconia crown material called BruxZir® is compared to a traditional PFM (Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal) crown by striking them with a hammer. While the PFM tends to chip, crack, or show damage under impact, the BruxZir crown demonstrates much higher durability—holding up to the hammer blows without failure. The test illustrates how BruxZir offers superior resistance to fracture and chipping compared to PFMs.
Procedure
​Most crown placements require two appointments:
-First visit: Tooth preparation includes reshaping the top and sides of the tooth so the crown fits comfortably. If too much healthy tooth structure has been lost, the dentist builds up the tooth with filling material so that it will support a crown securely.
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An impression or a computer model is made of the prepared tooth, and a temporary crown, typically made of composite resin, is put in place to protect the tooth while the finished crown is fabricated at a dental lab. Every crown is custom designed to make sure it fits comfortably, aligns with the surrounding teeth, and doesn’t interfere with bite or jaw movement.
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-Second visit: The dentist puts the finished crown in place and makes any needed adjustments to ensure that it fits properly before bonding it to the tooth. When the placement is ideal, the crown is secured in place using a special dental cement.
Because a crown improves both the form and the function of a tooth, it is one of the most popular restorative treatments available. Talk to your dentist to discover how a crown can enhance the health and the appearance of your smile.
Intraoral Scan
Dental intraoral scans utilize advanced imaging technology to create detailed digital impressions of a patient's teeth and gums. These scans are often used in the fabrication of dental crowns.
The digital file is sent to a dental lab where the crown is fabricated from a suitable material. Once ready, the dentist verifies the crown's fit and appearance before cementing it onto the prepared tooth. This streamlined process offers faster turnaround times, improved accuracy, and greater patient comfort compared to traditional methods, making it a standard practice in modern dentistry for crown fabrication.