
What is a Porcelain Crown
Benefits of Porcelain Crowns
- Aesthetics: Porcelain crowns are made to resemble your natural teeth, making them the perfect choice for dental repair and enhancement.
- Versatility: Porcelain crowns are widely used to correct broken teeth, misaligned and crooked teeth, and stained teeth.
What Problems Do Porcelain Crowns Correct?
- Teeth with overly large fillings
- Severely worn teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Heavily decayed teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Severely discolored teeth
- Teeth that have had a root canal
- Teeth on both sides of a bridge
Am I a Candidate for a Porcelain Crown?
- A tooth has been severely damaged by decay or trauma.
- A root canal is needed to remove a deep infection from a tooth.
- Tooth loss is being treated with a dental implant and crown.
What is the Porcelain Crown Procedure Like?
Consult and Exam
Tooth Prep
Impressions Taken
Temporary Crown Placement
Crown Placement
How Long Does a Porcelain Crown Procedure Take?
It takes two separate appointments to get a porcelain crown. The first appointment involves preparing the tooth to receive its restoration. This appointment can take an hour to ninety minutes. After preparing the tooth, the dentist takes an impression to send to the dental lab. A temporary crown is then placed over the tooth that has been reduced. This prevents debris from damaging the softer tooth material and also minimizes the sensitivity one may experience. The temporary crown is affixed with dental cement only so patients need to avoid eating hard or sticky foods until they receive their final crown.
The second appointment involves removing the temporary crown and seating the restoration that will be in place for several years. This visit may also take about an hour. The dentist will evaluate the fit of the crown, ensuring that it fits well against adjacent and opposing teeth. If necessary, adjustments are made to the crown before it is bonded to the tooth.