Dental Crowns

A dental crown, also known as caps, are a tooth shaped cover that is permanently cemented over a tooth that may be fractured, discoloured, has a large cavity, or has undergone root canal treatment. They are also used during dental bridge procedures as supportive teeth that help attach a bridge to fill a missing tooth gap, as well as placement over dental implants.

What steps are involved in preparing for a dental crown?

During your initial examination appointment your dentist will take x-rays to review the full tooth along with the roots. In some cases you may require a root canal treatment if there is extensive decay that reaches your tooth’s pulp. If a root canal is not required crown appointments are usually divided into 2 separate appointments.

For the first appointment your dentist will prep the tooth to install the crown. Your dentist will grind and shape the tooth so that the crown can be fitted over it. Alternatively, if there is a large area of the existing tooth that is missing your dentist will use a filling material that helps to build up the tooth structure in order for it to support the crown. Once shaped, our team will take dental impressions of your tooth to send to our lab for the manufacturing of your personalized dental crown which is made up of porcelain or metal. In the meantime you will have a temporary crown that is placed on your tooth until the permanent crown is ready – typically the timeframe is 2 weeks. 

For your second appointment, 2 weeks later, your dental team will remove the temporary crown to check the fit and color of your permanent crown. If everything is acceptable with the fit of your custom crown we will permanently cement the crown into place.

How long do crowns typically last?
On average, crowns last between 5 to 15 years, however with proper care and maintenance they have the potential to last 20 to 30 years.

How do I care for my dental crown?
Dental crowns do not necessarily require special care, however here are some tips to help increase longevity of your crown:

  • Properly brush & floss daily around your crown 
  • Avoid abrasive ingredients in toothpaste such as charcoal which can cause scratches
  • Help prevent teeth grinding/clenching
  • Avoid chewing ice
  • Avoid using your teeth as a tool to open packaging or drinks

If your crown does fall out and is intact, place in a safe storage container and call our office at 780-986-0016 in which we can schedule an appointment to recement the crown. You do not want to leave your permanent crown out of your mouth for an extended amount of time, as this can cause damage to your prepped tooth underneath.