Dental crowns also known as caps, are an effective treatment for damaged teeth. They encase the entire tooth and restore its strength, shape, and size. They are custom-crafted to look completely natural.
They are a great solution for teeth that are too worn down from bruxism or stomach acid, and they can improve the appearance of discolored teeth. They are also an excellent addition to root canal treatment.
Preparation for the Crown
During the first dental visit, your dentist will examine and prepare the tooth to receive a crown. They will also take several highly accurate, detailed molds of the tooth and surrounding teeth (or impressions) with reliable, putty-like dental cement to construct your custom-fitted crown.
This will require filing or shaving down the affected tooth – but the procedure should be painless thanks to local anesthesia. A temporary crown will also be placed to protect the tooth until the final one is ready.
Once the dental impressions are taken, they will be sent to a lab, where your crown will be designed with specialized software and fabricated using materials like ceramic, metal alloys or porcelain-fused to metal, among others. The crown will be carved out of a block of ceramic, and the shade of the tooth will be chosen to match your natural smile. This process usually takes two visits. However, if you opt for same-day crowns, the entire process may be completed in just one visit!
Placement of the Crown
Crowns are an essential restoration for a variety of dental concerns. They strengthen fractured or cracked teeth and can also help hold a dental bridge in place. They can also cover discolored or misshapen teeth and prevent them from being exposed to more damage in the future.
Crowning a tooth is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in one office visit. We use sedation dentistry to eliminate any discomfort and ensure you have a comfortable experience. Unlike a veneer, which covers only a tooth’s front surface, a crown completely encases a damaged tooth.
We use BruxZir crowns, which are made from the highest quality ceramic and designed to mimic your natural tooth color. These crowns are highly durable and will give you a natural-looking smile. They are also resistant to staining and do not cause sensitivity. Unlike older restorations, BruxZir provides better light transmission and improved color stability. We can customize your BruxZir crown to match the rest of your natural teeth.
Restoration of the Crown
Depending on the type of crown you select, the dentist will take impressions of the tooth or teeth (either digitally or with reliable, putty-like impression materials). The resulting models will serve as guides to the skilled lab technicians who will construct your new crown.
Metal dental crowns West Columbia SC are strong and durable, making them ideal for back teeth that receive a lot of biting pressure. However, they are not as aesthetically pleasing as porcelain crowns. For this reason, they are usually reserved for molars located in the back of the mouth.
All-porcelain or all-ceramic crowns offer the best aesthetics, but are not as durable as those with a metal substructure. To balance durability and cosmetics, many patients choose a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. If a crown does not fit properly, it can cause pain, discomfort and even damage to the tooth and surrounding structures. For this reason, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits and attend regular dental visits to ensure a proper fit.
Post-Crown Care
At your second appointment, we remove the temporary crown and cement the permanent one into place. This procedure should only take about 30 minutes or less. After the crown is cemented, we may need to adjust it to ensure proper spacing and bite.
Dental crowns West Columbia SC also referred to as caps, completely encase a damaged or decayed tooth in order to restore its shape, strength and appearance. They are commonly used to repair fractured, cracked or discolored teeth, but can also be utilized to replace a missing tooth as part of dental bridgework.
There are several different types of crowns, including porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal and zirconia. Ceramic crowns provide the most natural appearance, but are more susceptible to wear than other crowns. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer the durability of a metal base with the aesthetics of a ceramic surface. Base metal alloys are a sturdy option that resist corrosion and require the least amount of healthy tooth structure to be removed prior to fitting.
