Crowns

Crowns can be a recommended dental treatment for a number of reasons... esthetic option to change the shape, size or color of multiple teeth if desired, following root canal therapy to protect your investment and prevent the tooth from breaking, cracked teeth, or large areas of decay on a single tooth. If Dr. Cumberland notices that a tooth is weakened due to numerous areas of decay or has cracks, a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this, a filling or bonding will not be sufficient treatment to prevent future problems that could arise like cracked tooth syndrome pain upon biting and chewing.

Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or a full gold crown. To maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is best, as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and appear just like one of your natural teeth.

The process of installing a crown takes 2 visits in our office. On the first visit, the tooth will be reshaped so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been reshaped, an impression will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. The impression will be sent to a local dental lab so that your new crown can be fabricated to your tooth in shape, size, and color so that it fits in the spot created for it and looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready.

The crown takes about 2 weeks to be returned to your dentist from the dental lab. On the second visit, the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent crown will be tried on for fit, contours, and color. Some patients prefer to have a local anesthetic to numb the area and the tooth prior to removing the temporary crown; however many patients do not need any local anesthetic at all to have the permanent crown placed with cement. Crowns are durable and will usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing.

Call us today if you would like to learn more about how crowns can help restore your smile!