The Dental Crown Process Explained: What You Need to Know

Issues that impact your smile, such as trauma, disease, or infection, may call for artificial restorative solutions. One such tool used to restore your smile is dental crowns, which we use at Chalfont Dental Care.

Here, Dr. Varvara Clark and her dedicated team can restore your smile to its former glory using cost-effective and smile-saving treatments.

Understanding the Many Uses of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns (also called caps) are artificial reproductions of your natural tooth’s crown, the part of your tooth that makes contact with the top or bottom of your teeth and everything in between.

A dental crown is made using materials such as ceramic, porcelain, gold, and resin. Porcelain crowns are the most popular option due to their lifelike appearance and durability, second only to gold.

The purpose of a dental crown

Here are a few uses for dental crowns:

Broken Teeth

For badly damaged teeth due to infection or trauma, dental crowns can cover the tooth to prevent the need for extraction.

Discolored or Misshaped Teeth

Dental crowns are also used as cosmetic treatments to cover discolored and misshaped teeth. This treatment not only protects the tooth but also improves its appearance and function.

Missing Teeth

You can also use dental crowns to replace missing teeth in the following ways.

Bridges

Dental bridges are made using a minimum of two dental crowns that bookend and connect to a pontic (false tooth). The false tooth restores the missing tooth, and the crowns fit on either side over existing natural teeth to serve as abutments (anchor teeth) for the pontic.

Implants

Dental implants are made of two parts. The first part is the post, which is surgically inserted into the jawbone. The second part, the dental crown, screws into the post to complete the restoration.

Understanding the Process for Getting a Dental Crown on a Tooth

The dental crown process involves several steps that may take one or more visits to complete.

Preparation

The first step involves preparing the tooth to allow the crown to fit securely. This usually involves the dentist removing a small amount of natural tooth enamel. They may also fill parts of the tooth. The goal is to create the strongest foundational support for the crown.

Making Impressions

Using advanced technology like a handheld 3D scanner or special puddy, we take impressions of your teeth. We then send the impressions to a dental lab, where a technician uses them to create your perfect-fitting dental crown.

Placing the Temporary Crown

While you are waiting for your permanent crown, we place a temporary crown to protect your prepared tooth. You may have to wear this for two to three weeks while your permanent crown is being finalized.

Finalization 

Your final visit involves removing the temporary crown and placing your permanent crown. We also check to ensure the shape, color, and fit are satisfactory. Last, we bond your permanent crown with special dental cement.

Finding The Best Dental Crown Dentist in Chalfont, Pennsylvania

You can find out more about our dental crowns when you schedule a consultation with a Chalfont Dental Care team member. Just call (215) 826-3282 to get started. We look forward to making your smile feel whole again.

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