Are you in need of a dental crown for one of your teeth? This can leave you with a lot of questions about dental crowns if you've never had one before. Here are a few questions you are likely to want to know the answer to.

What Are Your Options For The Dental Crown Material?

There are a few different types of materials that are used for dental crowns, and your dentist will likely give you an option for which one you want. A popular option is a crown made entirely out of porcelain. It is going to look completely natural in your mouth, and will lack any metal backing to the dental crown. It is ideal for those that have metal allergies, even if the crown is not going to be as strong as other types.

An all-metal crown is going to not look the best, but it is going to be the cheapest and strongest of all the crown materials. It is best used when you have a rear molar that is not often seen yet you are more concerned about the strength and stability of the crown over time. 

The combination of both of these materials is a porcelain crown that is fused to a metal backing. You'll have a base of the crown that is incredibly strong, but it won't look like metal on the outside since it is covered with porcelain. However, sometimes you can see a small metal band along the bottom of the crown, but it is not noticeable when used on a rear tooth. 

How Is Your Tooth Prepared For A Dental Crown?

The process of installing a dental crown involves quite a bit of preparation. The dentist will actually need to shave down the natural tooth so that there is room for the crown to be put on top of it. This permanently alters the structure of the tooth. However, since a crown is typically used to save a tooth, the alternative is to potentially lose the tooth altogether.

You'll go to the dentist for an initial appointment where the tooth will be prepared, and then a mold will be taken of your mouth to know the exact size and shape of the dental crown. A temporary crown will then be placed on the tooth while you wait for the permanent crown to be created. You'll return to the dentist after a few weeks to have the permanent crown attached to the tooth.