What are dental crowns?

Crown, or caps as some people referred to them, are coverings for teeth that are broken, decayed, chipped, discolored, or not shaped properly. They can be made of gold, metal, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or zirconia.

When is a crown necessary?

A crown is necessary when the tooth that is to be crowned does not have enough tooth structure to support it. Teeth that have had root canals generally need to have crowns since they are weakened from removing the nerve.

How long will a crown last?

A crown will generally last 5-20 years depending on factors such as the patient's hygiene, whether the patient goes to the dentist regularly, if the patient has any other medical problems that could affect the oral cavity, and the biting forces on the crown.

How is a bridge different than a crown?

A bridge is more than one crown that are attached. Generally a bridge is done when a tooth or teeth are missing. Bridges are made of the same materials that crowns are made of and last about the same amount of time.

Why do crowns fail?

Crowns fail when patients do not go to their routine dental visits to check the status of the teeth and gums. If home care is not good, decay can get under crowns and they can fail. If patients have or develop gum disease, crowns can fail. Plaque control is very important to the life span of crowns and bridges.

How do crowns work?

Crowns act just like teeth in that they are designed to help chew and help with speaking properly.

How do I take care of my dental crowns?

Proper oral hygiene including tooth brushing, flossing daily and using a mouth rinse should be part of your daily routine.

What are dental bridges?

Dental bridges are generally more than one crown attached. When a tooth is lost, the opposing teeth will grow towards the space where the tooth was lost. By replacing the missing tooth with a bridge, the opposing teeth will not move. When teeth move from their normal position, patients can get jaw and facial pain.