When is a crown necessary?

A crown may be necessary for several reasons. If a significant piece of the tooth breaks off, such as a cusp, a crown will be necessary to restore the tooth to it's proper contour, function, and beauty. Sometimes, there may be a fracture line in a tooth that causes pain when chewing even though a piece of the tooth is not missing. A crown will help hold the tooth together. After a tooth has had a root canal a crown will almost always be necessary to prevent the tooth from fracturing. Finally, teeth may be crowned for cosmetic reasons. Discuss with your dentist whether this is the best treatment for you.

What are dental crowns?

Crowns, sometimes referred to as "caps " are restorations which cover the entire tooth. To place a crown, the tooth must be shaped by removing tooth structure on the sides and top of the tooth. A crown can be made from a solid metal (such as gold or a semi-precious metal), all porcelain, or it may be a PFM (porcelain fused to metal). You and your dentist can decide which type of crown is best for you.

Why do crowns fail?

Crowns fail for several reasons. Perhaps the most common is decay around the edge (margin) of the crown. This can happen even when the procedure has been properly performed. The second reason is due to failure of the visible part of the crown, such as porcelain fracturing or wearing through the metal on the chewing surface of the crown. Crowns may also need to be replaced for cosmetic reasons. Over time, the margin of the crown may begin to show and become unsightly. In addition, as time passes, the color of the surrounding teeth may change due to either bleaching or natural darkening. Generally crowns are very predictable and last longer than a large filling would.