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A crown is a permanent covering, which fits over an original tooth that is decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials, such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance although it is often less durable.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
- Reconstructing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
- Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks).
- Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
- Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
- Cementing the permanent crown into place after ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit..
This process generally consists of a minimum of two to three visits over a three to four week period.
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns which can help in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.
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