A crown is sometimes referred to as a “cap”.  It totally covers the tooth and protects it.  It is like putting armor over the tooth giving it strength.  A crown cannot be put over a tooth without first removing a small amount of tooth structure to make space for the crown.  Otherwise the crown would be bulky and when the patient bit down, he or she would hit that tooth first and cause trauma.  Initially, the tooth is prepared by removing a little tooth structure from the top and sides with a dental drill.  Then an impression is taken that is used to make a stone model exactly duplicating the “prepared” tooth.

The lab uses this to fabricate the crown.  A crown can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain-fused to a gold alloy.  A temporary crown is made of acrylic, a type of plastic, for the patient to wear while the permanent crown is being made.  When the permanent crown comes back from the lab, the crown is fine tuned chair-side so it fits perfectly.

It is then permanently cemented or “glued,” and the procedure is finished.  There are several reasons a tooth needs a crown. Some reasons include a tooth that has had a root canal, a cracked tooth, or one missing tooth structure due to decay, fracture, or other conditions.

Contact our Dickey Family Dentistry in Allen, Texas today to schedule your appointment or with your dental questions at 972.747.777.