CROWNS

Porcelain and Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)

You can erase years of wear and tear with porcelain crowns. Sometimes called “caps,” porcelain and porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns are customized for you, covering broken, cracked or discolored teeth. Crowns are a durable, strong, long-lasting method of enhancing both the look and functionality of your smile. After some preparation of the tooth or teeth that will receive the crown(s), Dr. Rutledge will place a natural looking porcelain or PFM crown (designed for you by a Master Ceramist Lab Technician) over your damaged tooth, restoring and rejuvenating your oral health.

Q: What is a crown, and why might I need one?

A: If your doctor has recommended a crown to you, it is likely either to correct a broken tooth or to repair a tooth that has deteriorated due to cavities (decay). The decay in your tooth eats away at healthy tooth structure much like rust eats away at metal. If not removed, decay will deteriorate the tooth to the point where extraction is the only viable treatment option. Sometimes, decay is removed leaving healthy tooth structure, but not much of it. A crown can then be placed, restoring the look and function of your tooth, while allowing you to keep your natural, underlying tooth structure. Most crowns are precision-milled porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), or full metal (gold or silver) and are individually customized for each application in each patient, giving you a natural, long-lasting smile.