What Is A Crown?

A crown is a type of tooth-like cap that is placed over a broken tooth, a tooth that has received a root canal, or a dental implant. What a crown does is provide a tooth surface that can be used for chewing, speaking, and appearing just like a natural tooth, and it can even provide protection to teeth which have received a root canal and are susceptible to breaking.

A crown can even provide protection to teeth that are susceptible to decay or other damages, as they cover the entire structure of a tooth lying below the gum line. If teeth are compromised in any way and become susceptible to decay, the placement of a crown can save a patient from needing further and more serious dental work later on.

From an outside perspective, a crown will look just like a natural tooth. Often made with a porcelain outside, it resembles the natural color, texture, and make-up of a person’s tooth, and can often not be discerned from the natural teeth in the mouth while talking or smiling. This provides an excellent solution for those who may have teeth that are chipped, broken, or decayed, as they can be given a natural and healthy looking replacement tooth structure very closely resembling a natural and healthy tooth.

A proper crown will typically take around 2 weeks to be made and prepared for placement, and in some instances, this may mean you will be fitted for a temporary crown in the meantime. A temporary crown gives you all of the protective benefits of a crown, but it may be off-colored, a little synthetic looking, and it’s not made to last. The temporary crown is given to protect a broken or root canal treated tooth with a shield until the crown is ready, and it will be removed before the placement of the permanent version.

At Community Dental Group, we feel that taking the mystery out of the crown process is a great way to make our patients feel more comfortable with their crown placement procedure. There are no discomfort or aesthetic concerns to fear when receiving a crown, and these are typically the very best solution when it comes to protecting and restoring natural teeth or implants. You can chew on your crown, brush your crown, floss your crown, and treat your crown like a natural tooth, all while knowing your oral health is protected!