A crown is a tooth restoration that is designed to protect healthy tooth structure. It recreates the original tooth shape, covers the underlying portion of tooth and prevents it from breaking.

Why do I need a crown?

There are many ways a tooth can be damaged to the point where a patch of filling will no longer adequately restore the tooth.

1. Large fillings that are failing, breaking or leaking)
2. Fractured or broken teeth
3. Deep or large areas of decay
4. Severely worn teeth
5. Root canals: A root canal is done when a tooth cannot be restored to healthy form and function without the nerve being affected. In some cases if a root canal is not done, the tooth will be very painful after the restorative is placed because the damage was too close to, or even into, the nerve. Teeth with abscesses (infection) need root canals to remove infected nerve tissue. Once the pulp of the tooth is removed during a root canal, the tooth is no longer vital, meaning it has no nerve or blood supply. This causes the tooth to be brittle and prone to breaking. It is for this reason that a crown is always done after a root canal, both to seal out infection and to prevent tooth breakage.
6. Aesthetics: Crowns can be placed on a tooth to make it a more visually appealing by changing the size, shape and the color.
7. Function/Bite: Multiple crowns can be placed in the mouth to create a more even bite or build up a collapsed or worn dentition.

Can I just get a filling?

Sure you can! Just know that a filling is not made to recreate large portions of a tooth. The fragile pieces of tooth that remain are likely to break which can cause unexpected pain, more extensive and expensive dental procedures, and even loss of the tooth.

I don’t want anyone to know I have a FAKE tooth. Will anyone notice?

No! Dr. David only uses the most recent technology and materials. The crowns she makes contain no metal and are beautifully matched to look like the rest of your teeth. What a relief!