Dental Crown Treatment in Raleigh, NC
What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a type of restoration that restores strength, size, and integrity to a tooth that has been slightly or severely compromised. Teeth can sometimes break and fracture, causing them to feel sharp, or making it difficult to eat and chew correctly. After having a root canal, a crown is often needed, because the tooth is more prone to breaking, cracking, or fracturing. Teeth that are broken down, or compromised in any other way, will benefit from having a dental crown. Dental crowns are made using realistic-looking materials, so you can enjoy a full, beautiful smile that looks completely natural. Your crown will be durable, and able to withstand quite a lot of pressure and force throughout the day.
Why might you need Dental Crowns?
Most often, a dental crown is needed because a tooth has broken or fractured. Teeth can fracture or break under normal, everyday circumstances, or if they’ve been altered by a root canal or other dental procedure. Additionally, a crown may be required after you’ve had an implant placed, once it has healed completely. Implants are permanent, but the crowns placed on top will need to be replaced every 5 to 15 years. With proper care and maintenance, your dental crown can last more than a decade. It is important to be careful when flossing your teeth in order to prevent your dental crown from loosening.
What makes you a candidate for Dental Crowns?
Most patients who need a dental crown are eligible for the procedure. The procedure requires absolutely no surgery, and can be done under safe, local anesthetic. The procedure takes about an hour in-office, where you’ll go home that same day with a temporary crown. The permanent crown is made for you in a dental lab, where it is matched to your existing tooth color. Teens and adults are good candidates for crowns, but they cannot be placed over baby (primary) teeth. Patients who have undergone a dental implant will need a crown once the surgical site has healed and the implant has become strongly anchored into the jawbone.
What happens during the typical procedure for a Dental Crown?
The crown procedure is relatively straightforward, and done in-office in about an hour. Local anesthetic is administered to make the procedure more comfortable for you. The tooth that will have the crown is filed down to create an abutment, which acts like a seat for the crown. Once the abutment is properly filed down and shaped, impressions are taken and sent to a local laboratory, specializing in dental restorations. The impressions taken are subsequently used to create a temporary crown that you’ll go home with that same day. Once the permanent crown is made, you’ll come back in and have the temporary removed, then have the permanent one placed. Dental and medical-grade cement is used to attach the crown to the abutment that was created. The crown will be filed down and adjusted to ensure your bite feels comfortable. With proper care, your crown can last up to 15 years before it’ll need to be replaced with a new restoration. Keep in mind that a color match is done prior to sending your impression out to a lab. This helps the techs to create a crown that matches perfectly with your teeth so that it blends in seamlessly.
We look forward to seeing you
If you are in need of a dental crown, or want to know more about this option, call our office, and we will get right to work scheduling an appointment for you.