A dental crown restores and protects a tooth when a filling alone may no longer provide sufficient structural support.
A crown covers the visible portion of a prepared tooth and is designed to restore its shape, strength, function, and appearance.
Crowns may be recommended for teeth that have:
At John E. Sullivan DDS, P.C., treatment begins with a careful evaluation of the tooth and surrounding structures.
The tooth is prepared by removing compromised tooth structure and creating sufficient space for the restorative material. An impression or digital scan is then obtained so the final crown can be fabricated accurately.
A temporary restoration protects the tooth while the definitive crown is being made when a laboratory restoration is required.
At the delivery appointment, the crown is evaluated for fit, contact with neighboring teeth, margins, appearance, and bite before being permanently cemented or bonded.
Modern crowns may be fabricated from several materials, including high-strength ceramics such as zirconia and esthetic glass ceramics. Material selection depends upon the location of the tooth, bite forces, available tooth structure, and esthetic requirements.
Our objective is to restore the tooth while preserving as much sound tooth structure as reasonably possible.