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So, you’re happily watching the Red Wings’ game and you see a puck flip up and smack one of your winged wheel denizens right on one of his big teeth, either cracking or chipping the tooth. You assume he’ll have to get the damaged tooth extracted and replaced by a dental implant or other prosthesis.

Not necessarily. He could merit a dental crown to save the tooth.

Dr Egger places crowns for his patients.

What is a dental crown?

A crown is a prosthetic appliance that is used to both save a damaged tooth and return strength to the tooth. A crown fits over the damaged tooth all the way down to the gum line. By completely covering the tooth, the crown gives the patient back the ability to chew and bite with the tooth, function that could have been tested by the damage.

What does Dr. Egger use crowns to address?

Crowns can be used for a variety of purposes. Crowns can:

• Save a tooth that is deeply cracked, worn, or fractured.
• Save a tooth with a large cavity that compromises its strength.
• Cover a tooth that is misshapen, too small, or heavily discolored.
• Serve as anchors for dental bridges.
• Return strength to a tooth that needed a root canal.

How is a crown placed?

Placing a crown isn’t an instant procedure — it requires two visits and a couple weeks. During the first visit, Dr. Egger prepares the tooth for the crown. To do this he shaves off a portion of the natural tooth on all sides and the top. This makes room for the crown to sit atop the tooth, without being larger than the original tooth was. After he shaves down the tooth, we take impressions of the tooth and the surrounding teeth, and these are sent to the dental lab to use when creating your crown. The process usually takes around two weeks.

When your crown is finished and arrives back at our offices, you return for your second appointment. Dr. Egger first checks the crown for fit and to see how it matches with your adjacent natural teeth. You may desire to test out the fit of your new crown at home for a couple of days. If this is the case, Dr. Egger places the crown with temporary cement and you head home to demo it. Otherwise, once Dr. Egger and you are satisfied with the fit, the crown is permanently cemented onto your tooth and you’re done. You can immediately begin using the newly crowned tooth.

Do you have a tooth that could use a crown? Call Dr. Egger at 989-773-3560 and let’s take a look.