Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over an existing tooth to restore the tooth’s size, shape, appearance, and/or strength. It is cemented into place permanently and covers the existing visible portion of the tooth like a helmet. It spreads out the impact of grinding and chewing and makes the tooth strong. There are many reasons you might need a crown:
- To restore a broken tooth: fillings, especially old silver fillings, can cause teeth to crack because of the pressure put on them from chewing. Grinding your teeth can enhance this risk
- To protect a tooth that has had a root canal: almost every tooth that has a root canal will need a crown. Root canals teeth are more brittle than live healthy teeth
- To conceal a discolored or misshapen tooth: sometimes our teeth just don't look how we want them to. Cracks, spaces, development abnormalities, and other influences could be fixed with crowns, especially the front teeth
- To protect a weakened tooth from further decay
- To cover a dental implant
The process generally requires two visits. During the first visit, x-rays may be taken, the tooth will be prepared to receive the crown, and an impression of the tooth and adjacent teeth will be made. Once the custom-made crown has been created by the specialty lab and returned to our office, your second appointment will involve ensuring that it is a proper fit in your mouth and bite. It is then permanently cemented in place.
Inlays and Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are restorative techniques similar to crowns, but they require less removal of the original natural tooth. An inlay fits within the cusps of the teeth and therefore covers less of the natural tooth. An onlay covers the cusps of and biting surface of the tooth — for this reason an onlay is also called a “half crown.”
The process generally requires two visits. During the first visit, x-rays may be taken, the tooth will be prepared to receive the inlay or onlay, and an impression of the tooth and adjacent teeth will be made. Once the custom inlay/onlay has been created by the lab and returned to our office, your second appointment will involve ensuring that it is a proper fit in your mouth and bite. It is then permanently cemented in place.