What are dental crowns?

A crown is a form of restoration- however, unlike filling just the surface as a filling would do, the crown encircles the whole tooth creating what people commonly refer to as a cap. A crown is needed in the instance that a cavity has threatened the integrity of the tooth, the tooth has a crack in it, or if the tooth is broken beyond the point a filling could fix.

When is a crown necessary?

A crown is necessary when a tooth has a cavity or has been broken to the point where the integrity of the tooth is threatened. It is also common to have a crown placed when a tooth has been cracked.

How is a bridge different than a crown?

A bridge is like a crown in the fact that it must be prepped and it encircles the tooth. However, a bridge covers includes more than one unit (or tooth).

Why do crowns fall?

Just as teeth can break from pressure or from biting in a certain manner, a crown can come off- most of the time, they will just need to be recemented. Your dentist can help prevent it from coming loose in the future by using a different type of cement. Typically, the most common type of crown to fall is a temporary crown. This reason for this is that temporary crowns are cemented with a temporary glue so that the dentist is easily able to remove the temporary to place the permanent crown.

How do I take care of my dental crowns?

Take care of your crowns just like you care for the rest of your teeth- brush at least twice a day, floss regularly (although not too vigorously around the crown), and come in for your 6-month cleaning appointments.

How long will a crown last?

There are several types of crowns each set to last around 10 years. Unfortunately, the mouth endures a lot of pressure and very few dental treatments will not have to be reevaluated after years of placement. However, most insurance companies have a five year gap between the time when a crown is first placed and when a new will be covered.