What Is A Dental Crown? Is It Right For You?

A filling is a great solution for repairing a little cavity, but when the cavity is not so little fillings aren't such a great solution. The tooth may be weakened, and it will need to be protected. In some cases, the amount of missing tooth material is too large for a simple filling to recreate the natural shape effectively. In these situations, crowns are needed. 


A dental crown covers most of the tooth structure, strengthening it and restoring the appearance. Our crowns are made of porcelain, which is considered the ideal material for restoring teeth. It is the same color as teeth and has the same refractive index, which means porcelain is lustrous and slightly shiny just like a tooth. It is also very durable because it has the same hardness as teeth. Basically, we take out what is bad and replace it with porcelain. It will still look, function, and feel, like a tooth.​

A crown is particularly suitable for a cracked tooth. They protect it from impact, so a cracked tooth doesn't turn into a broken tooth. They also keep bacteria from entering the crack and causing infection. This problem is especially common with old silver (amalgam) fillings.


Heat makes metal expand. It also makes tooth material expand, but not as fast. Every time you eat something hot, your silver filling is putting pressure on your tooth from the inside. Over time, tiny cracks develop and turn into big cracks. Eventually, part of the tooth can just break off unless the filling is removed and the tooth is crowned. We check every new patient for fractures around fillings. We use an intra-oral camera so that you can see the damage for yourself.

With CEREC technology, crowns may be fabricated right here in our office in one visit. The quality and durability of same day crowns is excellent, and they look wonderful. You're only one appointment away from restoring your healthy, beautiful smile!

If you have fractures, decay, or old fillings wreaking havoc with your teeth, call Social Circle Dental at (770) 464-1900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones.