Dental Crowns

Dental crowns, also known as "caps," preserve the functionality of damaged teeth. Crowns may be used to protect a cracked tooth, restore functionality of a tooth with excessive decay, or replace a pre-existing crown. The purpose of a dental crown is to encase a needy tooth with a custom-designed material.

The Clinical Procedure

During the crown procedure, Dr. Fealy prepares the tooth and makes a molded impression to send to a dental laboratory. A fitted, temporary crown is created during this visit to temporarily protect the tooth while the final restoration is being made in the dental laboratory. Once completed, the crown is cemented at a later visit.

Material Choices

The three predominant choices of restorative materials for the full coverage crowns are:

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal
• All-ceramic (all-porcelain)
• Gold