Dental Crown People seeking a long-lasting solution for restoring broken, chipped, decayed, or cracked teeth can consider replacement dental crowns. These restorations are commonly used after a patient undergoes a root canal procedure in order to cover, protect, and restore a tooth. Our dentist at The OC Smiles Family Dental can also use crowns as a cosmetic treatment to help mask discolored and stained teeth and spruce up the look of a smile. Dental crowns can be fabricated from different materials, including ceramic or porcelain, gold alloy, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all-metal, and require some little preparation of the natural tooth to install them. What Are Dental Replacement Crowns?Dental crowns are a type of cap that is installed to cover a tooth. Dentists use crowns to restore a decayed or damaged tooth. Crowns may also be used to enhance the look of a smile. Dental crowns come in different materials, including porcelain-on-metal, all-metal, and all-porcelain. The location where the crown will be placed in the mouth may determine the material to use. For front teeth, you can have all-ceramic crowns because they give a more natural appearance. For back teeth, you want a material that withstands the stress from chewing. Our dentist will help you decide what material to use. Who Needs Dental Crowns?People with decayed or damaged teeth can benefit from crowns. They receive crowns to cover and strengthen the damaged teeth. Once you get a filling and it is too large and not adequate structure is remaining, a dental crown can help cover and support the tooth. Additionally, replacement crowns can help in securing a dental bridge in the mouth. In this case, you can have the crowns placed on the adjacent teeth to support the pontic in between. Misshapen and severely stained teeth can also be covered with dental crowns to improve their appearance. People booked for dental implant placement will need dental crowns as part of the implant restorations. Moreover, patients who receive root canal treatment require dental crowns to cover the teeth. Procedure for Dental CrownsWe start by shaving away surfaces of the tooth so as to create space for the proper installation of the crowns. We do not want the crowns to push against nearby teeth. Next, our dentist gets an impression or 3D scan imaging that serves as the model for making the crowns. We install temporary crowns to cover the shaved-down tooth so that it is not affected while waiting for the fabrication of the final crowns. After about two weeks, your permanent crowns are ready and you can check in for placement. During the second visit, we affix the final crowns permanently. Dental Crown Care TipsDo not bite hard things to avoid damaging or cracking the crowns. Brush and floss as you normally do, but pay more attention to the crown areas where the tooth meets with the gums because bacteria, acids, and debris can settle there, risking attacking the underlying tooth that is covered by the crown. With proper care, you can have the crowns last about five to 15 years. Ensure you come to our office regularly for checkups and cleanings. Get your dental crowns installed by our team at The OC Smiles Family Dental. Call us at (971) 447-0093 to set up an appointment. |
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