Dental crowns are a type of dental restoration used as a cap for your tooth. This may be necessary after a root canal, dental filling, or other types of dental procedures. In addition, should you ever need a tooth extraction, dental crowns can be placed over dental implants. These help in giving your tooth its natural look and function after you have had extensive dental work done. We work with various types of dental crowns at New Life Dental and can explain each of them in more detail during your appointment.
Dental Crown Types
There are several different ways to categorize crowns. First, crowns can be differentiated at the time of placement. For instance, there are temporary, permanent, and even same-day crowns. Temporary crowns are coverings for the tooth to protect it while we wait for the permanent crown to be crafted. Permanent crowns are made to last for years, rather than just a few weeks. You would receive a temporary crown while you wait for this.
Same-day crowns, however, can be crafted and placed on the day of your dental procedure. These are great because you do not have to wait for them, but they may not fit as well over time once your gums heal.
Dental crowns can also be differentiated by how much coverage they provide. This includes either full or three-quarter crowns, also called onlays. Full crowns cover the entire tooth. Inlays only cover the biting surface of the tooth, not the sides.
Crown Materials
There are several different types of dental crown materials. Some of the most common ones include stainless steel, porcelain fused to metal, all porcelain, and composite resin. Stainless steel crowns are the most common type in pediatric patients, though we usually do not see many young patients needing crowns. These are strong, but they are typically only used as a temporary crown. Other metals that can be used are gold, cobalt-chromium, and nickel-chromium. These are also strong, but they do not look like your natural teeth. Porcelain and composite resin are more fragile, but they match the color of your natural teeth. Porcelain fused to metal is a nice middle ground because it has a metal interior with a porcelain shell.
Crown Placement
Before we can place the crown, we need to treat and prepare the tooth. This involves a local anesthetic to numb the area during the procedure. We will remove any decayed material and reshape your natural tooth to make a spot for the crown. Alternatively, we may need to use a composite resin to build up your tooth to create an adequate surface to attach the crown to. Once the tooth is fully prepared, we will make a dental impression to deliver to our lab. This is done so that they can make a custom crown fit to your mouth.
You will get a temporary crown while you heal. After healing, you will come in for temporary crown removal and permanent crown placement. We use a dental cement to attach the crown.
For more information on tooth crowns, call New Life Dental at (227) 258-3188.
Dental Crowns Germantown MD | New Life Dental Protect and restore your teeth with custom dental crowns at New Life Dental in Germantown MD. Quality materials and expert care. New Life Dental, 19735 Germantown Rd Suite 205, Germantown, MD 20874 ^ (227) 258-3188 ^ yourgermantowndentist.com ^ 11/11/2025 ^ Tags: Emergency Dentistry Germantown MD ^
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