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

Dental crowns are structural protection for teeth. When biting forces become detrimental to the natural tooth, a crown can aid in preserving the tooth and therefore prevent extraction of the tooth. The structural integrity of the tooth is the sole deciding factor of whether or not a crown is required.


2. What are dental crowns made of?

There are many different materials that make up crowns. A porcelain fused to metal crown (PFM) is a crown that has a base made of metal (for strength)and then porcelain is fused to this to allow the crown to look like a natural tooth. The porcelain comes in many different shades of color and your dentist will be able to match one color to your existing teeth to give the crown a natural appearance. There are also full gold crowns as well as full porcelain crowns. Ceramic crowns are made of high strength ceramics and also mimic natural teeth. Your dentist will be able to explain to you the different materials and why one or more may be better suited to your needs.


3. What are replacement crowns?

A replacement crown is a new crown that may be required to replace an old(already present) crown on your tooth. If the present crown is failing possibly due to an opening between the crown and the natural tooth, a replacement crown will be required.


4. When do old dental crowns need to be replaced?

Crowns require replacing once they start failing to provide the strength and support they were designed for. The margin between a crown and the natural tooth is a very important aspect to the protection a crown provides and if this margin becomes open (from time, strong biting forces, new decay, etc.),the crown will start to fail its purpose. At this point, a new crown will be required.


5. How can dental crowns strengthen teeth?

Crowns surround the entire circumference of the tooth and therefore distribute the biting forces along the perimeter of the tooth as opposed to straight down the biting surface. Cracks in teeth occur because there is a fine focal point (like hitting a nail with a hammer) along the biting surface of the tooth. Once a crown is placed, the biting forces are distributed to the circumference of the tooth thereby minimizing the force on the biting surface thereby giving added protection.


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

Root canal treatment on the posterior teeth require the dentist to enter the inside of the tooth to clean the infection. This entrance can weaken the tooth and therefore, create problems for the tooth in the future. Crowns remove this problem by covering the tooth circumferentially and therefore protecting the tooth from excessive force. The other aspect to the crown is that it covers the entrance into the tooth and thereby seals the area from bacteria in the mouth. The sealing of the entrance is crucial to long term survivability of the tooth.