DENTAL CROWNS

Give your teeth a new shape and better function

If one of your teeth is damaged, but can still be repaired, Dr. Al-Eid may decide that a crown is the best option to restore the appearance and function of a tooth. It is an artificial cap that covers a damaged tooth to restore its shape, function and protect it from other potential damages.

If you need a crown, Dr. Al-Eid will be happy to sit down with you, discuss your options and how best to proceed in your situation.

What are the steps in preparing a tooth for a crown?

During the first visit, the tooth that will receive the crown is examined and prepared carefully. Dr. Al Eid will take x-rays of the tooth, bone, and tissues to make sure there is no underlying cavity. If there is a risk of infection or injury to the pulp of the tooth (the soft tissue inside your teeth), a root canal treatment might have to be done first before proceeding with the crown procedure.

To allow the crown to be positioned accurately on the damaged tooth, it will be filed on the top and sides, the number of filed teeth depending on the type of crown chosen. All-metal crowns are thinner and do not require a dentist to remove as much tooth structure as porcelain crowns. If your tooth lacks volume, due to damage or decay, a filling material will be used to "rebuild" the tooth structure enough for the crown to cover your tooth properly.

After remodeling your tooth, a paste will be used to make a copy (also called an impression) of the tooth that will receive the crown. Impressions of the teeth above and below will also be taken to make sure the crown does not affect your occlusion.

The molds will then be sent to a dental laboratory that will manufacture the crowns and send them to Dr. Al Eid's office 2 to 3 weeks later. During this first visit to the office, Dr. Al Eid will manufacture a temporary crown to cover and protect the tooth while awaiting the permanent crown.

It is during the second visit that the permanent crown will be set in place. The temporary crown will first be removed and the adjustment and color of the permanent crown will be checked. A local anesthetic is sometimes used to numb the tooth when the new permanent crown is cemented in place.

What else should I know?

Crowns are durable and generally last 10 years or more if you take good care of them. Brush and floss them as if you were cleaning your natural teeth. Since your crowns will never be as strong as your natural teeth, be careful not to bite into hard objects or use your teeth to open or cut various objects.

The Bellerive clinic team is here to answer your questions. Contact us at 514-355-7635 and speak to a member of our team to learn more about dental crowns!