Dental Crowns San Antonio, TX

Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that is likely to break, or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are commonly done after root canal treatment. The larger the hole made by a cavity that has to be treated, the more likely the tooth will break, thus the need for a crown. During chewing, grinding of teeth, and clenching, teeth are subjected to tremendous pressures. Crowns are placed over the weakened tooth, providing strength and protecting the tooth against breakage. A broken or cracked tooth is a far more serious matter and much more difficult to treat. 

It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. During the first appointment, any decay is removed from the tooth and it is shaped to accept the crown. Then an impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. Crowns are usually made of high-strength porcelain over gold alloy, over a non precious metal or all ceramic material. In the interim, a temporary crown is worn. In the second visit, the temporary is removed and the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and then cemented in place.