A dental crown is a restoration that covers a tooth or implant. This lesson introduces the purpose of crowns, common reasons for using them, and the patient and tooth factors considered before treatment.
A crown, also called a dental cap, completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. It is usually attached to a prepared tooth using dental cement. Crowns can be made from metal, ceramic, or combinations of materials, and are commonly fabricated indirectly outside the mouth.
All flashcards
What is a dental crown?
A restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant.
Which factors are assessed before crown treatment?
Patient, biological, mechanical, and aesthetic factors, including costs, oral health, remaining tooth structure, and desired appearance.
Why is pure gold not used alone for full crowns?
Pure gold is too soft; alloying it with other metals improves its mechanical strength.
What is a ferrule effect?
A continuous band of crown structure encircling dentine above the preparation margin, which may help protect a tooth from fracture.
What is a provisional crown?
A temporary restoration that protects a prepared tooth while the definitive crown is being made.
Quiz questions
In crown preparation, what does retention describe?Answer: Resistance to removal along the path of insertion or the tooth’s long axis.
Why should zinc oxide eugenol temporary cement be avoided when a definitive crown will use resin cement?Answer: Eugenol can contaminate dentine and inhibit resin polymerization.
What does a supragingival crown margin mean?Answer: The margin is positioned above the gum line.
What does the milling machine do in a chairside CAD/CAM crown system?Answer: Carves the designed crown from a selected ceramic block.
What is a principal purpose of a ferrule in crown treatment?Answer: To help reduce stress concentration and protect a tooth from fracture.