Porcelain Crowns (Caps)

If you have ever thought that dental crowns or caps stand out and are unattractive, then you have never noticed a beautifully hand-crafted all-porcelain crown. Compared to older porcelain fused to metal crowns, all-porcelain crowns have a natural appearance in terms of color and contour. When done properly, crowns should be extremely difficult to distinguish from natural teeth. With all-porcelain crowns, no dark lines are apparent at the gum line. Our office commonly replaces unsightly crowns with beautiful new porcelain crowns.

Porcelain Crown Dental Procedure

When we are looking to protect a weakened tooth with a strong, long-lasting restoration, we turn to crowns. When a tooth is cracked, decayed, or damaged, a crown may need to be fitted onto the tooth. Crowns can also be used to whiten, reshape, and realign existing teeth, adding to a healthy and vibrant smile.

Preparing the Tooth and Crown

Two visits will be required to fit your tooth for the new crown, with the majority of the work completed at the first visit. The general steps for the creation of a porcelain crown are as follows:

• The area is numbed to make you comfortable for the procedure.
• Any old filling material or decay is removed from the tooth.
• The core of the tooth is built up with filling material to provide a stable base for the crown.
• The tooth is shaped like an upside-down Dixie cup to make room for the material of your new crown.
• A mold of your tooth is taken with impression material or a digital scanner. This is later sent to our lab, where your final restoration will be fabricated.
• We will fit you with a temporary crown that is custom-fit for your tooth to protect it and keep it from shifting until your final crown is returned from the lab.

When you return to the office in a few weeks, the visit is usually quick and easy. The second visit rarely requires anesthetic and basically entails trading your temporary crown for your final crown. After the final crown is fit in place, any required minor adjustments are made. The final step is to cement the porcelain crown in place.

If cared for properly, crowns will last decades and sometimes a lifetime.