Crowns, or caps, are full coverage restorations that are fabricated from porcelain, gold, or a combination of porcelain and gold. Porcelain crowns can be made to look just like real teeth. Crowns cover and protect a tooth that is likely to break or is too broken down to be restored with just a filling. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, when a large filling is worn out, or when a tooth has a large cavity.
It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. In the first 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 the crown. A temporary crown is worn until the second appointment which is usually in two weeks. At the second appointment the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and then cemented in place.
