A crown or cap is a restoration that covers and restores your tooth to its normal shape and size. Your dentist may recommend a crown for many reasons. You may have a large filling that is cracked with not a lot of tooth structure. If you have a weak tooth a crown can protect it from fracturing. Crowns are also used to cover fractured teeth, badly shaped teeth or discolored teeth. The materials that are used for crowns vary. Gold alloys or non precious alloys, porcelain, ceramic, acrylic, composite or a combination of these materials may be used. Usually two visits are needed when having a crown done. The first visit your dentist will prepare the tooth and take an impression which is then sent to a laboratory to be made. You will leave the office with a temporary crown usually made of acrylic until the permanent crown is ready to be placed. When your new crown has been placed you will take care of it the same way you do the rest of your teeth, brushing and flossing regularly as well as keeping up with your routine dental checkups.
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