1. In what circumstances is it desirable to make a dental crown?

Crowns are indicated when a tooth is cracked, has a filling that is wider than 1/2 the distance between the cusps, has fillings that have cracked the teeth, or has an extensive existing restoration that is at risk for fracture. It is also a required procedure, in most instances, when root canal therapy or removal of the nerve of a tooth has been performed.


2. What are dental crowns made of?

Gold, porcelain, zirconia, composite, and different combinations of the above.


3. What are replacement crowns?

If a crown fails from microleakage, poor fit, recurrent decay, or discoloration, it needs to be replaced. There are other reasons for replacing a crown and your dentist should be able to educate you about these reasons.


4. How can dental crowns strengthen teeth?

They don' t strengthen teeth, they merely reinforce them and optimize the direction of bite forces. Unprepared teeth that don' t have extensive fillings are stronger than teeth that have been reduced and have crowns.


5. What is the relationship between dental crowns and root canal treatment?

A small percentage of teeth that have undergone crown preparation will have pulpal death (the nerve dies) and this requires removal of the nerve with placement of gutta percha filling material in the root canal system. It is not always the crown that causes the nerve to die but the many fillings the tooth has gone through over the life of the tooth, the crown preparation is just the "straw that broke the camel' s back."