Dental crowns are one of the most widely-used restorative dental devices. But if you've never had the need for a crown until now, you may have no idea what they are and how they are used, so to help you understand the process, here are some important things to know about these dental devices.

They Have Multiple Applications -- Crowns are used for several different types of dental issues, the most common of which is when your tooth breaks or cracks, or when you undergo a root canal. A crown is shaped exactly like a real tooth, and it is placed over your existing tooth that has been broken or filed down due to dental surgery. No one can tell the difference between your old tooth and the crown. Crowns are very beneficial when a portion of your real tooth is missing, because they cover and mask the damage to that tooth.

They Are Not Dentures -- Unlike dentures, which are temporary 'fake teeth' that are removable, crowns are intended to be permanent, and they are made of a very durable type of porcelain. Crowns are bonded over your real teeth with a very strong adhesive and they are constructed to match the colour shade of your teeth, so that it's very difficult for anyone to know which tooth is real and which one has a crown.

Some Crowns Are Gold -- While gold teeth have become a cliche in society because of the prevalence of rappers who flash bullion smiles, gold crowns are the strongest and most durable crowns on the market. But dentists typically don't recommend gold crowns unless they are being used on your upper or lower molars. There are two reasons for this: one, molars are located deeper in your mouth, so it's more difficult for people to detect a gold crown; two, molars are used to grind food so they are subjected to greater stress than your front teeth, which means that they require a stronger crown.

Gold crowns last much longer than porcelain crowns because gold is a dense material, but they also cost more than porcelain crowns, which may be an issue as some insurance companies won't cover the full cost of a gold crown.

They Are Made From An Impression -- To make a crown, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. An impression simply means that a dental tray with soft material is placed into your mouth. You then bite down on that tray, and hold this position for about three minutes. Once the tray is removed, an impression is made, which is then sent to a lab to create the crown for the tooth or teeth that need it. Crowns can take as long as two or three weeks before they are made and shipped back to your dentist, who will then bond the crown over your tooth.

For more information, visit a dentist like Revesby Dental Centre.