Dental Crowns Terminology
Explore our dental dictionary to learn about common dental crowns terms. If you have any other questions or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you!
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Types of Crowns
- All-ceramic: Made entirely of ceramic or porcelain, offering excellent esthetics but may not be as strong as other options.
- All-metal: Made of gold or other metal alloys. Highly durable but not tooth-colored.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM): Combines the strength of metal with the esthetics of porcelain.
- Zirconia: Made from a strong, tooth-colored material that is highly biocompatible.
- Stainless steel: Often used as temporary crowns or for children’s teeth.
Crown Procedures
- Abutment: A connector piece that attaches the crown to the tooth or implant.
- Cementation: The process of securing the crown to the prepared tooth using dental cement.
- CEREC Same-Day Crowns: Crowns designed and fabricated in the office using CAD/CAM technology, allowing for single-visit placement.
- Core Buildup: Adding material to a damaged tooth to provide support for the crown.
- Crown Lengthening: A surgical procedure to expose more of the tooth structure for crown placement.
- Impression: A mold taken of the prepared tooth to create a custom-made crown.
- Margin: The edge of the crown where it meets the tooth.
- Preparation: Shaping the tooth to create space for the crown.
- Temporary Crown: A crown worn while the permanent crown is being made.
Related Terms
- Bridge: A dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth by using the adjacent teeth for support.
- Bruxism: Grinding or clenching your teeth, which can damage crowns.
- Dental Implant: A titanium post placed in the jawbone to support a crown or other restoration.
- Onlay: A type of restoration that covers one or more cusps (points) of a tooth.
- Root Canal Therapy: A procedure to remove infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth, often followed by crown placement.