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Crowns – Dental Restoration
What Is A Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are permanent caps placed over teeth to restore the function and appearance of a damaged tooth. Crowns protect and repair teeth when fillings no longer work to solve the problem. Over time, teeth can develop cavities or become damaged. A crown offers a solution to cover the existing tooth to improve the appearance while strengthening the tooth.
A crown looks like a tooth but is hollow. The crown goes over a prepared natural tooth and covers the tooth’s visible part above the gum line. The doctor cements the crown to hold it permanently in place. While crowns improve the aesthetics of teeth, they are not primarily a cosmetic procedure. Instead, crowns are a corrective dental treatment.
What Is A Dental Crown?
Why Is A Dental Crown Needed?
Your doctor may recommend a crown when other treatment options like a filling will no longer work. If you have sensitivity, pain, visible damage, or weakness of a tooth, ask your dentist whether a crown is right for you.
- Strengthen a weakened tooth, often from decay
- Replace a large filling, especially when not much tooth remains
- Provide stability when attached to a dental bridge
- Cover a dental implant that replaces a missing tooth
- Cover a misshapen or extremely discolored tooth
- Restore a broken or worn tooth
- Place as part of a root canal procedure
Work with your dentist to find the best solution to restore your teeth.
What Is the Procedure for Dental Crowns?
Before you begin the process of placing a crown, we are happy to answer any questions you have about the procedure. We want to ensure you understand and have confidence regarding the treatment plan.
Dental crowns typically require two visits. During your first visit, your doctor examines and prepares the target tooth or teeth for the crown. We do so by removing any decay and reshaping the tooth to allow the crown to fit.
Next, we make dental impressions to create an exact model of the tooth. A laboratory receives the impressions and uses them to design and build your customized dental crown. The dentist places a temporary crown to protect your tooth while you wait on the permanent crown.
Your second dental visit takes place two weeks after your first appointment. During this appointment, we replace your temporary restoration with the permanent one. Once placed, we make any necessary adjustments to the crown to better align it with the color and shape of your natural teeth.
What Types of Crowns are Available?
Atlanta Smiles offers two primary types of crowns: porcelain and all-white zirconium. Metal crowns are available; however, they do not blend with the teeth to create a uniform and beautiful smile.
Porcelain crowns have been available for many years and provide a natural appearance. Plus, porcelain color matching works well to blend the crown with the surrounding teeth. Porcelain mimics the light reflection of a natural tooth for the best aesthetic crown solution.
All-White Zirconium Crowns
All-white zirconium offers the strength of metal with the added benefit of a tooth-colored aesthetic. Zirconium is a more robust alternative than porcelain while still providing a natural-looking appearance.
Gold Metal Crowns
Gold crowns don’t offer the aesthetic appeal of porcelain or all-white zirconium. Yet, metal offers extraordinary strength. We offer gold crowns when necessary for improved function of the second molars.
The decision of crafting your dental restoration using zirconium or porcelain is ultimately yours. However, we provide a recommendation for the best type of crown based on the placement of the dental restoration, your aesthetic goals, and your overall budget.
How Long Do Crowns Last?
How Much Do Crowns Cost?
Once in place, dental crowns are virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding teeth. Crowns make an excellent solution to repair and restore teeth.
- Save a tooth from extraction, especially when combined with a root canal
- Work with bridge treatment to provide a strong support
- Improve the appearance of the teeth
- Reduce the pain of sensitive teeth
- Strong and low maintenance
- Add protection to a damaged tooth
- Restore a tooth in size, shape, and color
Invest in your smile and health with dental crown treatment.