How a Crown is Prepared

Part 2 of our crown series is how a crown is actually done.  A crown is custom fit for each tooth.  Dr. Scott will reduce each side of the tooth, to allow for the new crown to fit in your mouth.  Without that reduction from every side of the tooth, that crown would be the only tooth your teeth hit when they come together.

After the tooth is reduced, a crown is placed over the top.  The color and type of crown is done to fit and blend perfectly with the neighboring teeth.

Having a crown does not mean you now have a fake tooth.  It is your natural tooth underneath.  You will still feel hot and cold.  You can chew normally; you will be able to floss normally.  It is still your tooth.

A crown does not mean you have to have a root canal.  However, the reverse is true:  if a tooth has a root canal, a crown is now recommended.  A root canalled tooth is hallow and thus fragile to breaking.  A crown strengthens a fragile tooth.  But just because a tooth has a crown does not mean it will need a root canal.