Crowns in Federal Hill

What a crown is

A crown is a cap that covers the whole tooth. Where a filling repairs part of a tooth, a crown takes over the entire biting surface and holds what is left of the tooth together underneath.

When a crown is the right repair

Usually when there is not enough sound tooth left to hold a filling. That happens after a large piece breaks off, when an old filling has grown over the years until little tooth remains around it, or when a tooth has cracked. A tooth that has had a root canal often needs one too, because it becomes more brittle once the nerve is gone.

If a filling would do the job, Dr. Ellis will do a filling. A crown is more work and more tooth removed, so it is not the first answer.

What happens at your appointment

The tooth is numbed and shaped so the crown has something to sit on, then a scan or impression is taken so the crown can be made to fit. Dr. Ellis will tell you how yours is being made and how the visits are spaced.

Matching the color matters more than people expect. A crown on a front tooth is matched against the teeth on either side of it, in daylight, before it is fitted for good.

Looking after a crown

Brush and floss it like a natural tooth. The crown itself will not decay, but the tooth underneath and the gum around the edge still can, and that edge is where problems start.

Avoid using it on ice or fingernails, and tell us if you grind your teeth, because that is hard on crowns.

Cost and insurance

Most plans cover part of the cost of a crown. You will get the figure in writing before anything is booked. Check your plan on the Insurance Plans Accepted page.