Dental crowns are one of the most common treatment options for restorative and cosmetic needs. Dr. Joyce Kim provides advanced treatment options for placing dental crowns, including CAD/CAM technology for same day crowns. Dr. Kim will evaluate the condition of your dental health and discuss your needs before making treatment recommendations for your consideration.
A dental crown can be made of high quality ceramic or porcelain, depending on your specific aesthetic goals. Color matched to your natural appearance, dental crowns play a key role in the long-term maintenance of the aesthetics and function of your smile.
The Uses of Dental Crowns
One of the best benefits of dental crowns is that they can be used for various treatments, both in cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
Cosmetic Fixes
Discolored teeth are traditionally treated with professional teeth whitening. However, not all discoloration responds to the usual treatment. Discoloration caused by things like medication or trauma needs a different solution. We can color-match a crown to any shade of white that you desire. It completely covers the tooth, so you can no longer see the discoloration.
Misshapen or deformed teeth can be an embarrassing point of your smile. While most people don’t like how they look, they can also have oral health impacts. Your tongue interacts with your teeth to make sounds and speak. Each tooth also has a crucial role when you’re breaking down food. A crown matches the shape of normal teeth, restoring complete function.
Stabilizing Natural Teeth
One of the most common uses of a crown is to restore a tooth after it has had a root canal. A root canal removes infected tissue inside the tooth, sterilizes it, and refills and seals it with a biocompatible resin. But you don’t always get full function back. A crown gives you full function and provides an extra layer against bacteria.
A traditional dental bridge uses teeth on either side of it to support it. This puts a lot of stress on those anchor teeth, which wear down faster and are more susceptible to tooth decay. We recommend using dental crowns on these anchor teeth. Crowns can take on the pressure of supporting the bridge, protecting your natural tooth structure.
Treating Broken or Decayed Teeth
When a tooth breaks, it exposes the sensitive dental pulp and nerves inside, making it painful to eat and drink and susceptible to infection. The tooth may also have sharp edges, endangering the soft tissue. A dental crown is ideal for treating severe tooth breaks. It goes over the tooth and protects the dental pulp again while removing those sharp edges.
Dental crowns are the last solution to save a tooth with severe decay or damage. Tooth decay can eat away large portions of your tooth. A dental crown can give you a stable, complete tooth again. If your tooth shatters, the dental crown can hold the pieces together so you don’t lose the tooth root.
Dental Crowns What to Expect
The dental crown process will typically require 2 visits with us to complete. The first step is to prepare the tooth by removing any damaged or diseased structure and creating a stable foundation for securing your restoration.
After tooth preparation, Dr. Kim will take the dental impressions needed for designing and fabricating your new crown. These instructions will be sent on to a dental lab where your new crown will be expertly crafted for you. In most cases, a temporary crown can be placed during the waiting period of about 2 weeks time.
Once complete, you will return to our office for the final restoration. Dr. Kim will secure the new crown in place and make any adjustments necessary for a comfortable fit. The surface is polished and smoothed so your new restoration will feel like a natural part of your smile.
A good daily oral hygiene routine and regular dental care will ensure that you enjoy the best possible result.
CEREC: Same-day Crowns in Williamsport, PA
When we need to return a tooth to optimal function, appearance, and health, we may place a restoration. Our dental crowns are made from lifelike materials. Using advanced technology, we can now place them in a single visit, saving you time. How do same-day crowns work? Are they as reliable as traditional dental crowns?
Traditional vs Same-Day Crowns
Typically, receiving a dental crown meant preparing the teeth, biting down on sticky materials for an impression, and the need for between two and three visits to complete the restoration. However, using CAD/CAM technology, we can complete the entire procedure in one visit. After preparing the tooth by removing a small amount of structure, we take digital impressions using a wand, which takes detailed pictures of the tooth.
Using the information, the doctor creates a 3D model on the computer which is uploaded into the CEREC machine. The machine then mills the crown from a solid block of ceramic. After making any necessary adjustments, we place the restoration in the same visit. The resulting crown is as strong as a traditionally made ceramic restoration.
When Do You Need a Restoration?
We may recommend a dental crown for a number of reasons, including:
Improving esthetics by changing the tooth’s shape and shade
Once you receive your new same-day crown, you need to maintain good oral hygiene to ensure the restoration lasts for many years to come.
We recommend brushing and flossing your teeth daily, as well as seeing your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. You should also quit smoking and cut back on sugary foods and drinks, which promote plaque buildup and lead to poor oral health.
If you only have a cosmetic issue with your tooth, like a chip or crack, you’re a good candidate. If it’s more severely broken or cracked, but the tooth root is intact, you can get a dental crown as well. If you have any sort of infection, that must be treated before a crown is able to be placed.
Dental crowns are made of high-quality dental ceramic or porcelain. Depending on how well they’re taken care of, they can last an average of around 10-15 years. They can last a lifetime if they’re taken care of properly and don’t get damaged, but chips and cracks are possible.
Your permanent crown is more durable than your temporary one, but there are still some foods to be wary of. Extremely sticky foods like certain candies or gum are things to be careful with. You should also try to avoid biting down on hard candy or popcorn kernels.
