Dental Crowns or Caps

What are some of the main reasons for a dental crown?

Dental crowns or Caps are typically done to restore the structural integrity of your tooth. Any time a very large amount of tooth structure is missing a crown may be the restorative answer.

Dental crowns or caps can be made of several different materials. They include: gold, cast metal, Porcelain fused to metal, all porcelain, Composite resin. Depending on each patients particular needs a different crown may be selected.

The porcelain fused to metal and all porcelain crowns are the most cosmetic, but gold is one of the longest lasting restorative materials for dental crowns or caps available today.

The following are some causes of dental crowns:

• A tooth had root canal therapy
• A very large fracture in a tooth
• Large fillings that are failing
• Replacing an existing crown
• Cosmetic dental makeover
• To rebuild a patient's bite to correct alignment and improve function

What can I expect at the appointment?

At the first appointment for a dental crown or cap a patient is thoroughly numbed before treatment begins. Once totally comfortable the dentist first removes the old fillings and tooth decay, along with any cracks or chips. Once this is done the dentist rebuilds the missing tooth structure with a "core buildup". This acts as the new substructure for your dental crown. Next, your dentist trims the tooth as necessary to make room for the dental crown material of choice. Following this, a material is placed around the tooth to gently push the gums to the side temporarily to allow a dental impression material to be placed around the tooth capturing an exact replica of your tooth. Then a tooth colored material is used to make a temporary crown to hold space and protect your tooth until the permanent dental crown or cap is completed. The dentist picks a color that allows your new dental crown to match precisely. Typically this takes 2-3 weeks.

At the second appointment the dentist checks to be sure the dental crown matches properly to your teeth. If you approve of the color the dentist will try it in and check for fit and seal. If the dental crown or cap fits properly it is permanently bonded to your tooth and your bite is checked. After a final polish and evaluation you are on your way with a new dental crown. Usually it is best to wait for an hour before eating on your new dental crown to allow adequate setting of the cement.

Crown in a single dental visit

Our office proudly offers CEREC. This is a revolutionary technology that fabricates a full porcelain crown or porcelain filling at our dental office in a single visit. The tooth is numbed and prepared for the dental crown as previously described, however, instead of a goopy impression material we use a digital camera to scan your tooth and make a virtual model on our computer that we can fabricate your porcelain crown or filling on in one visit. That's right you will leave with the permanent dental crown or cap the same day. These dental crowns are beautiful and match perfectly.

Dental insurance provides the same coverage as traditional crowns. The visit is typically 1-2 hours depending on the number of dental crowns and complexity of the restorations. The best part is you don't have a second visit, a second shot, or a dental temporary crown. Dr. Rairigh is very skilled with the new CEREC technology and the traditional method. If you feel you may be in need of a dental crown, filling, or partial dental crown, Dr. Rairigh will gladly consult with you and give you his insights.

Do you have more questions about crowns or caps?

Contact us today by calling 412-854-2310 and find out more about services provided by Dr. Dan Rairigh's offices in the Pittsburgh area.

We offer 0% financing for crowns at our Pittsburgh offices

Ask about our financing options and payment options for dental crowns when requesting an appointment for initial consultation.