Dental crowns may not bling like the jeweled crowns of the British monarchy, but they’re just as precious. In dentistry, a crown is one of the most effective dental solutions for covering a tooth to restore its shape, size and strength, or to improve its appearance.

Cover, Protect, Restore

Although permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime, it’s easy to let them go. Not brushing is one way to surrender your teeth to rot. Skipping regular dental visits is another. So is eating hard candy. The truth is, a number of factors can make the health of your teeth go awry -- that’s why crowns are such a common dental treatment.

Your dentist might recommend a dental crown to:

- Cover discolored teeth or a dental implant
- Protect a decayed tooth
- Restore a broken tooth
- Hold a dental bridge in place

Made in a dental laboratory, permanent crowns are made from a variety of dental materials, including:

- Metal (gold, nickel or chromium)
- Porcelain fused to metal
- All porcelain or all ceramic
- Composite resin (durable plastic)

With all of these options it’s easy to feel as Abbe' D'Allanival did when he said, “The more alternatives, the more difficult the choice.” The good news is the kind of crowns you ultimately wind up with depends on what your dentist recommends and which teeth need crowns. Keep in mind that metal crowns require less tooth structure to be removed, but are less attractive than their porcelain cousins. Alternatively, porcelain, though less noticeable, may not last as long as metal or composite resin crowns.

The Dental Crown Procedure

Dental crowns can be placed in just one visit if your dentist uses a dental tool such as CEREC®. If not, crowns generally take two visits to complete. During the first visit, your dentist takes X-rays to examine the extent of decay or damage. If a root canal isn’t necessary prior to placing the crowns, your dentist will then:

- File the chewing surface and sides of the tooth to prepare for the crown

- Take an impression of the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth

- Place a temporary crown to cover the prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being made

After about 2-3 weeks you’ll be on your way to crowning glory -- the permanent crown should arrive from the lab and your dentist will place it during your second visit.

Keep in mind that crowns don’t keep decay at bay. You still need to brush regularly , eat a well-balanced diet and see your dentist regularly. Avoiding certain habits such as opening packages with your mouth, grinding your teeth and chewing ice can also help prevent crowns from wearing out prematurely. Do all of these things and your shiny new crowns should last between 5-15 years.

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