Hi, I'm Dr. Dao here at Healthy Smiles Dental, and I have a lot of questions about what crowns are, and I’d like to take the time here to answer some of the questions about crowns, and I hope that helps.
What are dental crowns?
That is difficult to say without giving you an understanding to see, because I like to speak and show with this one. So, this is the crown. Imagine this is a crown; you can look and see all around. You see this, and this is a crown. So, this is a crown. You see this one, a crown; it's like a cap. You see it like a cap, and it is put over the tooth like this. You can see that it is put over the tooth. I don't know if you can see, but it's like a cap and over the tooth. Okay, you can see that, or I can show you here; it's the crown. You see this is the crown when you put it over the tooth, and it looks like a tooth right there. Okay, so another picture that I have here. Where is the crown? So, you have this as your tooth, and this is a crown, and you put it over the tooth too, and it looks like that after that. You see? So, that is the crown. So, you see, that is the crown. But why is the crown needed in this condition? You see, this is the crown because, look, it simulates — you see when we talk about this crown here, you can see that it simulates this portion of the tooth structure. You can see that, right? It simulates this tooth structure. So, when it simulates this portion here, when this portion of the tooth structure is damaged — like an example like this, you see it is damaged — you have to replace the whole tooth structure to have something like a strong one, and it looks like a tooth, and you are able to chew, and it looks good. So, this is one example here, or you can see the tooth structure outside this piece; it is broken, right? So, you need something like the outside layer; you need to replace the whole thing like here to support, to replace it.
Okay, like tooth structure placement, a strong tooth structure around, and you can see that it's all 300° around the tooth that goes inside the tooth to protect the whole tooth inside. So, for example, in this one, you see this one is the whole thing here outside being damaged due to the cavity, or you can see here the tooth has been damaged because of the cavity, so that whole tooth structure here is weakened a lot, and it could not support the eating and chewing function. So, what the crown here — like this thick layer — you can see a very strong layer that we are eating and chewing with. So, it needs something strong all around 360° around the tooth to support the tooth structure in terms of the function. Like in this case, it is broken, so you need a crown. Yes, and in this case, you can see a big broken filling too big, and you're going to damage the tooth where bacteria can go inside, and it goes further down, and then you can have a fracture too. So, it needs something strong to capture the tooth, to protect it from further damage. So, it's an outer layer. When it has been damaged, that is one thing. The second thing is, in terms of damage — but in the cavity or from trauma or another thing — for some other reason, when you develop teeth, the development can be defective; it doesn't look good in terms of the shade or color, or somehow it's yellow here, black here, or too dark, or too black here. So, that can be shaved up and add the layer.
So, I'm going to show you the picture here. I have it here, so I hope the picture can help to explain more. So, I have the picture here that you can see. You see this? The outer layer is either broken — you can see here, it's been worn out and broken — so the whole tooth structure outside has been replaced like this. You see the part here, and it covers that so it looks much better. So, the outside layer is being chipped from a cavity, or look at the stain here and stain there, so the outer layer should be replaced with something like this. You see another tooth structure so it looks better. Yes. Now, number one is visible, so I can see the crown. So, look at this here. Sometimes the tooth is like this, but it's not big enough, so the side of this part is not big enough. So, it can be covered with something — the crown is now a layer, a bigger layer to get here — so it looks like that. Okay. Okay, in this case, we can see the outer layer has been defected. So, defected outer layer — you see chipped here, you see broken here, you see chipped here, you see chipped and broken here. You can have it replaced with an outer layer. It's all around. So, it's here. You can look — it's more the same layer, the same color, the same texture, which is to cover the space too that we do with the crown. And we can go on with this one.
Examine this one here. You can see the outer layer doesn't look good. Right here, you can see. So, that outer layer can be changed with the crown, where we can hear something like this — we take cover, put it in the teeth, and put it in, and we can have it something like that. So, it's the outer layer that does not look good. You can see it either chipped — see this? Then it could be covered like that so it will look much better after you cover with something — the outer layer to cover. So, that crown is something to outer layer that has been either aesthetically doesn’t look good, either chipped or stained or broken or a little too small or angled or tilted or broke because of the cavity. Or we can see, or sometimes it's a little too small like this. You can see we can make it bigger too, or we can talk about something really, really dark and stained — something too — we can get the outer layer removed here and add another crown, another layer on top of that. That’s the crown. Or sometimes it's trauma that it broke a lot like that — we can cover it with the crown with the outside layer. It's just a replacement.
Crown means it's a replacement of the outer layer — you can see on tooth structure — to get more strong, beautiful, function, and the color. We can change the color from too dark, and in this case, broken a lot to like that, to a color. If it's from — sometimes it’s from a certain color — from this outer layer is from this, we can change with this color if that can change the color too. So, anything related to outer layer — if this layer of the tooth structure has been damaged for whatever reason, we need to replace with something strong, looks good, functions, and that is the crown. I hope that helps when answering the crown — what is the crown.
What are the alternatives to dental crowns?
We have alternatives. We call it veneer. Veneer is the thinner one instead of the crown. Like, you can see 360° around — it's more strong and is wrapped around the tooth like a cap. We have veneer — let me try to show you. Veneer is just a thinner portion, a thinner portion like this; it's only on one side, on the one surface to attach — it's not all around. So, that is veneer. You can see the picture — veneer — and that’s veneer. And inlay only is for the back teeth. It’s similar like veneer, but it's in the back of the teeth. We call it inlay only.
What types of dental crowns are there?
What dental crown material do we have? So technically, it is something — our crown is something we replace this area here — something that's strong. We have gold. Gold is strong. Um, zirconia, like porcelain, is strong like natural teeth or stronger. And ceramics, which is — we use for the front — one is for aesthetic. But gold is strong — white gold and yellow gold — but most popular is porcelain, which is very strong. It’s stronger than natural teeth.
What are the different materials used in dental crowns and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
Yeah, so like I say — gold, white gold, and yellow gold — in the back, some like gold, and it lasts. It’s gold. You know it's gold. It's strong. It flexes a little bit, and that is strong — so that’s an advantage. And then porcelain is very strong. It's in the back. It's stronger than natural teeth — four times stronger than natural teeth. However, cosmetic-wise, compared to ceramics, it’s more for the front — it looks like tooth color. But the strength one is not as strong as porcelain, but it's more aesthetic.
Is a dental crown necessary after root canal treatment?
Definitely, yes. Just thinking about why — uh, yes — why we need a root canal. Let me show you what a root canal is. The root canal is when you get a tooth damaged. So, when the tooth is damaged, this portion is very weak, and the tooth is very weak. So, the crown is the outer layer for supporting the tooth, and it's strong, and the crown material is very strong — the same strength as this or it's stronger than your natural teeth. And when you bite down — you bite, look at this one — you don't bite the ring on your tooth, you bite on the point. So, it's less force on the tooth, so it's less pressure. It's more time for the tooth to be more — uh — more strength in that way.
Can you explain the dental crown procedure?
Okay, crown — dental crown procedure — let me show you the picture. Like, I love to show the picture because with the picture I can tell you more. So, the first appointment, we have to prepare the crown. And then, after preparing the crown — this part — it will be done in two weeks. So, the two-week lab — we get you a temporary when you are waiting for the lab, and up to two weeks you come back. We can include it in, and you look like this. So, usually two appointments.
Does the dental crown placement hurt?
I don't think it hurts, but it may be a discomfort a little bit somehow because we have to work, and it touches your gum area here, and that may be uncomfortable a little bit. But we usually have to get an anesthetic in the area here, and that way, it's numb, so you don't feel it, and then we can put the crown inside.
Hi, I'm Dr. Dao at Healthy Smiles Dental. I'm here to answer the most common questions that patients have about dental crowns, and I hope this will help explain better what dental crowns are, when to use them, and how to use them.
What are the dental crowns?
I need something to show here because I think visuals will help better. Let's look at the tooth anatomy. The part of the tooth we see when we smile is the dental crown, the natural crown. We call this portion the crown. Inside, we have another layer, and inside that, we have the nerve. The root goes inside the bone, and there is a nerve here. The outside layer is called the natural tooth crown, which is the visible portion. The crown is the white part that we all see. Yes, this is one-half of the tooth. If I turn it around, this is what we call the crown. This is half, but imagine the whole tooth. This is the natural crown.
Why is this part important? Because the entire tooth is the strongest structure for protection, for chewing, and to prevent damage from reaching the nerve. If it reaches the nerve, it can cause infection, abscess, swelling, and worsen systematic conditions. So, this is very important. This is the natural tooth crown.
A dental crown is something we place when this portion is damaged and doesn't look good naturally. Damage can be due to cavities, large restorations, or fillings, making the tooth no longer strong enough to function. When it's not strong enough, bacteria can enter, causing infection, pain, or cracks. In those cases, we replace this portion with a dental crown, which should be as strong or stronger than the natural tooth crown.
Here is what a crown looks like: you see this crown on the tooth when a portion of it is damaged, for example, if it breaks. We replace the damaged part with strong dental crown material. Sometimes it cracks, so we need something strong to hold it. If it's already damaged, bacteria can cause infection. The dental crown is a replacement that fits in like a tooth structure. Sometimes it’s damaged, which I’ll show in another picture. The outer layer may be damaged, so we replace it with a strong material like the natural tooth or stronger, which we call the crown.
And besides damage, for cosmetic reasons, if it doesn't look good or the shape isn't good, the outer portion can be replaced. Here's a picture example: the natural tooth's outer layer looks chipped or broken. We replace it with crown material, and it looks better. You can improve the shape and cover gaps, which helps prevent inflammation, bleeding gums, and pain. The crown covers the sides to ensure better fit and function.
Here's another view where the natural crown's texture or color doesn't look good. We call it an "outer layer defect." If there's a defect or space, we cover it with a crown, improving the shape and texture, making it look more natural.
This is another example: the material doesn't look good, so it can be replaced with a dental crown for a better shape and appearance. Here's another picture showing the same. The color is dark, and the texture is defective, so we replace it with an outer crown layer.
Sometimes a tooth is smaller, so we add a crown layer to improve size and natural appearance. This is what a crown is. We can replace broken outer layers with crowns to improve appearance. Also, in terms of color, if the outer layer's color isn’t right, we can replace it with a crown in the desired color.
What are the alternatives to dental crowns?
We have veneers. Veneers are not 360° like crowns; they cover only one side. We can also have inlays.
What different materials are used in dental crowns and what are the advantages or disadvantages of each?
We have many materials, depending on the crown's location. Traditionally, gold was popular, especially 10–20 years ago, because it's strong. Gold is used for posterior teeth, not the front, although some prefer it for the front. Now, we have porcelain and zirconia, which look more natural and are strong enough for the front or back teeth. They can be four times stronger than natural teeth.
Ceramic is less strong but more cosmetic, used mainly for anterior areas. Those are the choices for materials.
Is a dental crown necessary after root canal treatment?
Yes, it is. In root canal treatment, bacteria invade the tooth, causing infection, and we clean the nerve. The natural crown is often compromised, allowing bacteria to enter. Replacing the outer layer with a strong crown prevents bacteria from entering and reduces tooth fracture risk. After a root canal, the tooth is weakened, so a crown is necessary for protection.
Does the dental crown placement hurt?
During preparation, it may be slightly uncomfortable because we work near the gum. We use anesthesia to numb the gum, so it should not hurt. The answer is no.
Are there any consequences for getting a tooth crown?
Yes, sometimes replacing the damaged portion can cause short-term sensitivity. If it lasts longer, we need to reevaluate the tooth's structure and nerve integrity for further procedures.
Is it worth putting children's teeth in a crown?
Definitely, yes. Baby teeth have adult teeth developing underneath. If baby teeth have cavities or infections, they can affect the adult teeth. A crown on baby teeth protects them until they naturally fall out, preventing bacteria from affecting adult teeth.
Do crowns look like normal teeth?
Yes, they not only look normal but better. Dental crowns replace natural crowns that are broken or damaged, improving cosmetic appearance. While gold crowns are not natural-looking, porcelain crowns look like natural teeth, sometimes indistinguishable from natural teeth.
Can you get cavities on crowns?
Yes, you can. A dental crown is a man-made replacement for a damaged natural tooth crown. You can develop cavities at the gum line or on adjacent teeth, just like with natural teeth.
How should I take care of my dental crown?
You should take care of it more than your natural teeth. Brush, floss, and have dental check-ups every 4–6 months. Man-made crowns may react differently than natural teeth, so maintaining cleanliness is crucial to avoid inflammation.
How long can you expect a dental crown to last?
The crown material is very strong, often lasting 10–20 years or more. The crown itself rarely breaks, but the tooth can develop cavities around it, leading to breakage.
Does insurance cover dental crowns?
It depends on the case. For significant tooth damage or after a root canal, crowns are usually covered. For cosmetic reasons, coverage depends on the insurance policy.
How can I schedule an appointment for the dental crown?
Great question. Just give us a call for an examination. We can discuss your needs and explain more. Call us at (724) 308-9360. We're here to help and would love to assist you.
Alright, I hope this helps to understand what a dental crown is, how and when to use it. If you have further questions, or if you're ready, give us a call. Thank you so much.