Crowns

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a prosthetic that's attached to your damaged tooth to help cover and ultimately strengthen it. Dr. Bello uses them to improve your appearance and alignment. Dental crowns to provide a snug fit onto your teeth, and Dr. Bello does this by taking an impression of your mouth to custom fit them. She may use a temporary crown while the permanent crown is being created.

Why do I need a dental crown?

Dr. Bello might recommend a dental crown to address any of the following conditions:

• Protecting a broken or cracked tooth
• Restoring broken or severely damaged teeth
• Stabilizing a dental bridge
• Covering misaligned or discolored teeth
• Covering a dental implant
• Making a cosmetic alteration

For children, dental crowns can be used to address decay in teeth that can’t support fillings.

What happens during the procedure?

The procedure for putting in a dental crown typically involves two separate dental appointments. Initially, Dr. Bello inspects your affected tooth to see if it can support a crown. In cases where your tooth is badly damaged, Dr. Bello may opt to fill it, making it bigger so it can support the crown.

After your tooth has been modified, Dr. Bello takes an impression of it, as well as surrounding teeth. The impression is sent to a lab where the permanent crown is made. In the meantime, Dr. Bello sets you up with a temporary crown that protects your tooth until the permanent one is ready. At your second visit, she removes the temporary crown and replaces it with the porcelain version using an adhesive.

What should I expect afterwards?

It may take some time to get used to the feel of a porcelain crown in your mouth. After some time, your newly crowned tooth will feel just like the rest of your teeth. Dr. Bello will encourage you to make follow-up appointments to see how your crown works out and to make sure your tooth remains healthy.