Crowns

A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. A crown, which many people call a cap, is made to look like your tooth.

Crowns may be placed for several reasons, but generally the tooth has been extensively damaged by decay or breakage and filling material can’t replace the missing tooth structure, leaving the tooth weakened. A crown may hold together parts of a cracked tooth and can be used to hold a bridge in place. Crowns also are used for cosmetic purposes to cover misshapen or badly discolored teeth.

Crowns can be all metal, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), or all porcelain. Metals include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or porcelain). The all-metal or PFM crowns are stronger and are better choices for back teeth. Anterior crowns that are all porcelain are indistinguishable from natural teeth.

After a Crown

You shouldn’t feel any discomfort or sensitivity after a crown is placed, though if your tooth still has the nerve in it, you may have some hot/cold sensitivity. If you notice pain or sensitivity when you bite down, you should contact your dentist. Usually this means that the crown is too high on the tooth. This can be fixed easily.