A dental crown is a particular kind of technology used in restoring teeth. It protects teeth from further damage by encasing and covering them entirely. Dental crowns are also known as tooth caps or dental caps. A dentist normally uses dental crowns in cases wherein teeth have decayed or have been broken or when teeth are in need of strengthening. Furthermore, these crowns are also used in cosmetic dentistry because they improve the physical appearance of a person’s teeth and subsequently, his smile.

As opposed to dental fillings which are inserted within the tooth, crowns cover the whole tooth itself. In effect, a crown serves as a tooth’s outer shell. In addition to this, crowns can consist of metal such as gold, ceramic such as porcelain, or a mixture of the two.

Moving on, with regard to the steps involved in placing the dental crown, the dentist will first place a numbing agent on the tooth and on the surrounding soft tissues. Next he will trim off some portions of the tooth, so that when the crown covers the tooth, it will not look oversized. After this, the dentist shall develop a model of the tooth through a material from which the crown shall be molded in a laboratory. The length of time in making a dental crown usually takes two weeks. During these two weeks, the dentist will provide a provisional crown for the tooth.

After the dental crown has been finished, the dentist will then remove the provisional crown and place the actual dental crown over the tooth. Next, he will test it if it fits properly by using a floss or a dental instrument. Finally, when the test is successful, the dentist will now cement the crown over the tooth.