Crowns

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Crowns

A crown (also known as a cap) is a tooth-like covering placed over a preexisting tooth. Crowns can serve many functions: strengthening, restoring, or improving the appearance of your natural tooth. For example, a crown can support the tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling. Crowns may also be used to protect the structure of a tooth that is fractured or broken, and can be attached to bridges or dentures.

A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:

  • To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
  • To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
  • To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
  • To hold a dental bridge in place
  • To cover misshaped or severely discoloured teeth
  • To cover a dental implant

Usually broken or cracked crowns are not repairable, or financially not wise to repair a severely damaged crown. If your crown becomes loose or falls off, the crown can be placed and re-cemented back on its original place. The dentist will examine the crown and evaluate the severity of the damaged/loose crown and the tooth that has been covered by the crown. Depending on the procedures that have been done on the tooth prior to placing the crown and health of the gum tissue, you will be normally given two options:

  • Repairing and re-cementing the crown if possible
  • Placing a new crown