Dental Crowns

If you have a tooth that needs to be restored to its original size or shape, the dentists at Whole Health Dentistry can place a dental crown. This is a tooth-shaped cap that is cemented over a tooth that has been prepared by the dentist. After it is cemented in place, the crown encases the entire visible portion of the tooth all the way down to the gum.

There are several reasons to use a crown:

• Cover an implant
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a root canal
• Replace a stained or misshaped tooth
• Restore a fractured tooth, if not fractured into the root
• Prevent a tooth from fracturing
• Replace a filling if there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold a new filling

There are also several different kinds of crowns:

• Permanent or temporary: A temporary crown is usually only needed while waiting for a permanent crown to be made. The permanent crown is then put into place with a stronger cement.
• Stainless steel: Usually used on children’s primary teeth, they are more cost effective and require less office visits. The crown falls off naturally when the permanent tooth emerges.
• Metal: This is a good choice for back teeth for two main reasons. First, they are stronger and provide better stability for chewing and biting. They rarely chip or break. Second, the metal color is less noticeable in the back of the mouth.
• Resin: These are less expensive but tend to fracture easier and wear down over time.
• Ceramic or Porcelain: These provide a better color match to the original or remaining teeth, or for people with metal allergies, and can be used for front or back teeth.
• Porcelain & Metal: This option also looks more like normal teeth, but they tend to chip or break off easier and cause more wear on the opposing teeth.