Dental Crowns Glossary

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.