One of our most frequent procedures at Germantown Dental Group is giving patients dental crowns. This can be the end cap of a broader process like a root canal, or an independent one. Our team is going to take some time today to answer this question: How do dental crowns improve aesthetics and functionality?
While every dental office in every city gives crowns to patients, you’ll find that the work of Dr. Whittemore and Dr. Gruen stands out from the crowd. You can peruse a gallery of our patients’ perfect crowns on this page.
When a Dental Crown is Needed
So, what warrants a dental crown? There are many simple and complex circumstances where crowns are the easiest and most effective solution. Here are a few of the main reasons we see in our office:
- Restoration: In cases of severe damage to a tooth, when it’s been broken, chipped, or significantly worn down, a crown can be an excellent way to restore it back to its original state. We actually use them after root canals and dental implants for this manner of reinforcement.
- Protection: When teeth have been slightly cracked or weakened, crowns can be used as a measure to prevent damage from getting worse.
- Appearance: Crowns also have cosmetic benefits since sometimes damage and decay can significantly alter the appearance of teeth. Porcelain effortlessly blends in with your natural surrounding teeth, making it hard to distinguish!
Examining the Process
Everyone’s teeth are a bit different, of course. But like many restorative procedures we perform, there’s a general blueprint that we follow for everyone. Let’s break down the main steps of a dental crown:
- Evaluation and Preparation
- Assessment: Your doctor will take a close look at the state of your tooth or teeth, taking x-rays if needed to check on your roots and bone structure.
- Preparing the Tooth: To prepare the tooth, we will remove the areas of decay and damage and start to shape it so that the crown will fit how it’s supposed to.
- Digital Scan: By taking a detailed 3D scan of your tooth and the surrounding area, the dental lab team is able to accurately fabricate your crown.
- Temporary Crown Placement/Fabrication:
- Dental crowns take some time to be made. In the meantime, we provide you with a temporary crown to protect your tooth. While you wear this temporary crown, a team works on your permanent component in a lab. They take careful steps using our data to ensure it’s a perfect fit.
- Crown Placement:
- You’ll have a separate appointment where we will painstakingly cement your crown into place. Our expert team will ensure the final appearance is absolutely seamless in terms of color, sizing, and how it aligns with your bite.
FAQs
We honestly love to answer our patients’ questions. Some of you might feel uncomfortable when asking about our process, but inquiries are always more than welcome! Our practice has been trusted for decades by the city of Memphis and its surrounding areas.
When it comes to dental crowns, these three questions arise fairly often:
Q: What’s the difference between a crown and a filing?
Fillings can be great for smaller areas of concern, while crowns can cover the entire surface of a tooth. Both operate similarly, but crowns are best for more extensive restoration.
Q: How should I care for my dental crown?
With any type of dental restoration, you’ll want to be mindful of how you take care of it. Maintenance looks a lot like that of your other teeth. Be careful to effectively brush and floss it, and try to avoid any unnecessary pressure on it. An example of this is trying not to eat too many hard or crunchy foods using a tooth with a crown.
Q: How long do dental crowns last?
If you take good care of a crown, it can easily last ten to fifteen years—or even longer. This really starts with how well the crown itself is executed, which is why it’s so important to choose Germantown Dental Group for our exceptional standard of work. Again, we always encourage patients to see our work for themselves before they see us!
A Truly Stellar Solution
With everything we do, we aim to do it the very best. We never want our patients to feel nervous or uncertain before undergoing treatment. Dental crowns are a common part of our daily duties, so feel free to reach out to our Germantown office today if you’re in need of one.