Crowns

Here in Collingwood at Hume Street Dental Care, Dr. Shafiei and Dr. Sabernia offer crowns as a great restorative option for damaged, decayed or worn teeth. If your tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown can be used to restore its shape, appearance and function. You may need a crown if you have a root canal, a large filling in a tooth or a broken tooth.

A crown, also called a cap, is a hollow, artificial tooth used to cover a damaged or decayed tooth. The crown restores the tooth and protects it from further damage. Crowns can also be used to cover a discoloured or misshapen tooth. A tooth that has been fixed or protected with a crown will look and work very much like your natural tooth.

How is a crown procedure work?

• Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia will give you a local anesthetic.
• To make room for the crown, Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia may need to do some preliminary work on the tooth that needs to be restored.
• An impression of your tooth and nearby teeth is taken. This impression is used to custom make your final crown. The crown is built using restorative material (material used for fillings) based on the impression. The final crown will be the right shape for your mouth.
• Until your final crown is ready, Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia will place a temporary crown over the tooth that needs to be restored. The temporary crown is made from an impression of your tooth before it was prepared. It protects your tooth until the final, permanent crown is ready. A temporary crown may not have the same shape and colour as a final crown.
• On your next visit, Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia removes the temporary crown and places and secures your permanent crown. Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia will check to make sure the crown is the right fit, shape, colour and bite. If it is, Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia cements the permanent crown into place.
• These are the steps dentists most often follow in making a crown, but your tooth may need special care. You may need orthodontic treatment, gum treatment or root canal treatment. It may take more than 2 visits to Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia before your treatment is completed.

Different types of crowns

Crowns are made from various types of materials. Depending on which tooth needs a crown, Dr. Shafiei or Dr. Sabernia will suggest a material, or combination of materials, that is right for you.

Metal crowns are made of gold. They generally last a long time and won’t chip or break. They tend not to wear down your opposing natural teeth. However, the gold colour does not look natural, particularly on front teeth.

Composite crowns look natural. They won’t chip as easily as porcelain crowns, but they tend to wear more quickly from chewing. Tooth brushing tends to remove the highly polished surface of composite crowns and this causes them to stain more easily. Porcelain crowns look the most natural. They are more brittle than metal or composite and may chip more easily. Because of this, they are not usually placed on back teeth.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look natural and are stronger than porcelain or composite crowns. They won’t chip as easily as porcelain or ceramic crowns. However, depending on their design, the metal may show if your gums are thin or shrink.

What else should I know?

Crowns are strong and generally last for about 10 years or longer if you take good care of them. Brush and floss your crown, just like you clean your natural teeth. Crowns may not be as strong as your natural teeth. So like your natural teeth, remember not to bite down on hard objects or use your teeth to open or cut things.

Before & After