Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are either all-porcelain or porcelain- fused-to-gold restorations that are used to restore broken, fractured, decayed, or discolored teeth. Crowns are needed when insufficient tooth structure remains to hold a filling, or when the entire tooth needs to be improved or strengthened to allow the restoration to be long lasting. Porcelain crowns are held in place by cementing the crown to the remaining tooth structure.
Crowns can also be used as final restorations when placing implants to replace single or multiple missing teeth. In the case of implants, the crowns are cemented to implants that act as a tooth’s root system to hold the crowns in place. Please see the section titled “Implants” for more info.
As with many dental restorations, crowns may require occasional replacement or repair during your lifetime.
Crown Procedure
The procedure for crowns involves at least two appointments. (Some offices will offer “same day crowns”. Dr McGhee can speak to you about these) All restorative appointments are done after thorough exam and cleaning, whenever possible. The first appointment is when the tooth/teeth are prepared for the crown, using anesthetics, and an impression is taken to send to the ceramics lab for the crown(s) to be fabricated. Temporary crowns are usually placed to protect the prepared tooth/teeth until the permanent crowns can be placed; usually 2 ½ weeks after they are prepared. When the crowns are ready to be cemented, the second appointment is scheduled to remove the temporary crowns and cement the crowns in place using very strong cement. This delivery appointment includes adjustments needed on the crown to insure proper fit and bite. The doctor or his staff can speak to you about how to take care of dental crowns.