When teeth are severely damaged, repair with conservative treatments like fillings may be ineffective, and tooth loss may seem unavoidable. However, we may be able to preserve remaining dental structure with an advanced restoration called a dental crown. Viewed from the top, crowns look just like natural teeth, but if you turn them over, you’ll see the inside has been shaped to fit completely over the top of a tooth’s remaining structure. Once cemented in place, dental crowns provide advanced protection and restore lost form and function to the damaged or decayed tooth. Keep reading to find out more about dental crowns, or contact the California Happy Teeth Family Dentistry team any time if you have questions or concerns.
Why Do I Need a Dental Crown or Bridge?
Patients may need dental crowns or fixed bridges for a variety of reasons, but the purpose of a dental crown restoration is always to preserve natural teeth and replace lost tooth structure. Some of the common reasons we recommend dental crown restorations include:
- To repair severe decay or damage that renders your remaining tooth structure unable to be restored adequately with smaller restorations
- To protect and strengthen root canal treated teeth
- To support one to three consecutive replacement teeth by attaching dental crowns to surrounding teeth to create a fixed bridge
- To restore missing teeth as part of dental implant supported tooth replacements
- To improve the cosmetic appearance of the smile by concealing a flawed tooth or teeth
How Are Dental Crowns & Bridges Placed?
We offer dental crowns in a number of materials including gold, porcelain fused to metal, and all-ceramic. We will recommend the best materials to restore your damaged tooth and provide adequate longevity for the restoration. Regardless of the material we choose, the placement process remains the same.
You'll need to plan to visit our office for at least two appointments. During your first visit, we'2ll prepare the tooth by removing any damaged or decayed structure to allow the crown to fit into your natural smile line. Then, we’ll take impressions that will be used by our dental lab to create your crown or bridge, and finally, we’ll place a temporary crown to protect your tooth. Once we receive your custom restoration, you’ll return to our office to have your final restoration placed.
