Before Crowns /After Crowns
Dentistry is an art as well as a science; dental crowns offer a perfect example of this. A dental crown or “cap” is a covering that fits over a damaged, decayed or unattractive tooth. It can even replace a tooth entirely as part of dental bridgework.
A crown completely covers a tooth above the gum line. This is in contrast to a dental veneer, which only covers a tooth’s front surface and needs natural tooth structure to support it. Therefore, if a tooth is missing a significant amount of structure above the gum line, a crown would be the restoration of choice.
Crowns strengthen damaged teeth, allowing them to function normally again. When crafted from today’s high-tech porcelains (dental ceramics), crowns are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. They can even be designed to improve upon a tooth’s original appearance.
There are other materials besides porcelain that we can use to make dental crowns, depending on what qualities are most important. For durability, cast gold can’t be beat. However, this is not always the most aesthetic choice — especially towards the front of the mouth. Other possibilities include porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (PFM), which have a metal interior for strength and a porcelain exterior for a more natural appearance, and all-porcelain crowns with zirconia, representing the strongest ceramic. We would be happy to discuss the pros and cons of these various options with you.
A crown is used to repair a damaged tooth that cannot be repaired by a filling. The damage may be due to decay, accident, wear, or grinding. The procedure for a crown requires two appointments. During the first appointment, the tooth needing a crown is prepared to support the crown and an impression is made. A temporary crown is placed for the time period in which a dental laboratory is manufacturing the crown. At the second appointment, the crown is cemented into place. Because a local anesthetic is used, there is no pain during either of these visits. Tooth colored crowns match the existing teeth and look as natural as the surrounding teeth.
At Dental Professionals of Dardenne, we are proud to offer CEREC Same-Day Crowns. This advanced technology allows us to create and place your dental crown in just one appointment, providing a range of benefits:
Crowning or capping a tooth with CEREC technology will usually take only one visit. During your appointment, your tooth will be prepared to receive its new crown. First, it is shaped to fit inside the new covering, which involves some drilling to give the tooth a uniform shape. The tooth and the surrounding area will be numbed beforehand. If there is very little tooth structure left to begin with, the tooth may have to be built up with filling material, rather than filed down, to support the crown.
After the tooth is prepared, digital impressions of your teeth are taken and used to design your custom crown. This design is then sent to our in-office milling machine, which creates the crown from a block of ceramic. Within minutes, your new crown is ready to be placed.
The permanent crown will be attached to your tooth with either a resin that hardens when exposed to a special light source, or a type of permanent cement. This process ensures that your crown is secure and functional immediately.
I had a crown put in and it fits perfectly. In fact, within minutes of leaving the office, I felt as if it was my original tooth, smooth, no pain, very natural. As always, GREAT WORK everyone! – Don
Crowns can also be used to create a lifelike replacement for a missing tooth. This is done with bridgework, which spans the space of the missing tooth and requires at least three crowns. Two of those crowns will be placed over healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth; these healthy teeth are referred to as abutment teeth. The two crowned abutment teeth become supports for a third crown placed in between them; that third crown is referred to as a pontic. If more than one tooth is missing, more crowns will be needed to bridge the gap in between the abutment teeth.
The number of abutment teeth necessary to replace missing teeth is influenced by the number of missing teeth, the size and length of the abutment tooth roots, the amount of bone support each abutment tooth has, as well as where in the mouth the missing tooth is located. For example, if you have three missing teeth, four abutment teeth may be necessary, thereby creating a seven-tooth bridge. Engineering and designing of the bridge requires an understanding of how to replace teeth, as well as the biology of the supporting gum and bone tissue.
Crowns and bridgework require the same conscientious care as your natural teeth. Be sure to brush and floss between all of your teeth — restored and natural — every day to reduce the buildup of dental plaque. When you have crowns, it is even more important to maintain your regular schedule of cleanings at the dental office. Avoid using your teeth as tools (to open packages, for example). If you have a grinding habit, wearing a nightguard would be a good idea to protect your teeth and your investment.
Navigation
Featured Services
Hours Of Operation
Monday: 7:30 am-4:00 pm
Tuesday: 7:30 am-4:00 pm
Wednesday: 7:30 am-4:00 pm
Thursday: 7:30 am-4:00 pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed