If you have deep decay, have been encountering prolonged, painful teeth, or your teeth are broken to a level where simple fillings cannot work, dental crowns may be suggested. At McDonald & Luck DDS in Plano TX, we rebuild smiles with dental crowns, allowing our patients to regain their bite functionality, enhance oral health, and revamp tooth aesthetics.
We can successfully resolve the restorative and cosmetic concerns with your teeth.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A tooth crown is a dental covering that encases a damaged, discolored, or misshapen tooth to bring back its strength and reinstate its function.
Dental crowns can strengthen teeth that have undergone root canal therapy. Crowns are crafted of different materials, including non-metal ones such as porcelain.
At our dental office, we prefer color-matched dental crowns fabricated from porcelain because they deliver a highly natural-looking restoration.
Our dentist crafts customized crowns that seamlessly blend with the natural teeth.
Types of Crowns
Different types of crowns can be utilized based on the dental care needs and preferences of the patient.
There are porcelain crowns loved for their color-matched ability since they provide a natural-looking restoration.
Metal crowns require less enamel removal and can withstand chewing and biting forces. Nonetheless, their metallic color tends to make them undesirable for the front teeth, but they are an option when working on out-of-sign molars or back teeth.
Resin crowns are not sturdy enough and only work best for temporary crown placements. We have other options like porcelain-fused-to-metal and zirconia crowns.
What Can Dental Crowns Fix?
We can repair tooth decay and fix issues like a broken, weakened, fractured, or cracked tooth with a porcelain crown.
Further, our dentist can use crowns to strengthen teeth once a root canal treatment has been done on an inflamed, diseased, or damaged pulp of a tooth.
Where stains on teeth have failed to respond to conventional ways of whitening teeth, we can brighten them by placing crowns to cover the stained areas.
Moreover, people with short and worn-down teeth can have them elongated or fixed with crowns. Misshapen teeth can also be straightened.
Further, you may receive dental crowns during the tooth implant placement.
These crowns provide the artificial tooth that you need to accompany your tooth implant. A dental implant crown is fitted over an abutment piece that connects to the implant post.
Crown Placement Process
During the consultation, we check the tooth to see how bad the damage or staining is and if crowns are a suitable choice. We may take x-rays to aid with the examination.
Once we clear you for dental crowns, then the actual placement process begins.
Our team starts the treatment by conducting a non-invasive preparation of the tooth. We remove a portion of the enamel, allowing adequate space for the new crowns to sit properly over the tooth.
Our dentist may also rebuild areas of the tooth using a filling material. Here, we aim to create a strong foundation where the crown will sit firmly once it has been placed and bonded.
We also take teeth impressions since they are needed to construct models for crafting the crowns. In the meantime, we mount temporary crowns to protect the shaved-down enamel and allow you to chew while the final crown is prepared.
On the final visit, our dentist takes out the previously mounted temporary crown and then permanently affixes the new, lasting crown. Due to the time spent while mapping out the treatment, your last visit should be quick and predictable.
Caring for Your Dental Crowns
To make sure that your dental crown stays in good condition, you should maintain your oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss the interdental spaces once daily.
Be cautious when flossing because as you pull the floss thread up, it could cling to the edge of the crown, risking pulling it up and dislodging it from the bonding material.
Avoid harmful bacteria and biofilm by using antibacterial mouthwash.
Further, if you have the habit of grinding and clenching your teeth, we suggest that you request our dentist to craft you a customized mouthguard for the protection of your crown restoration.
It is also prudent to avoid extremely chewy, hard, or crunchy foods since they may damage the newly fitted crown.
Visiting the dentist for routine, regular dental exams and cleanings is also paramount as it helps ward off elements that contribute to decay, enamel erosion, gum disease, and other dental problems.
The dentist also inspects the status of your dental crowns at this time.
Dental Crown FAQs
If you are scheduled for dental crowns, there may be questions that you need answered. Dental crowns are an investment that you do not want to get wrong from the beginning.
Over the time we have assisted patients with their dental crowns, we have heard many questions, and here, we provide answers to some of them.
How long will my dental crowns last?
With your newly fitted dental crowns, you can expect them to last about five to 15 years.
Patients who receive quality porcelain crowns and observe proper aftercare and maintenance can even see the restorations lasting up to 30 years.
Diligent brushing and flossing, coupled with the use of mouthwash, can significantly increase the dental crown lifespan.
Are there alternatives to dental crowns after receiving root canal therapy?
Once you have had root canal treatment, our dentist may provide alternatives like resin fillings, dental bridges, and inlays and onlays. However, the decision to use these options depends on your individual, specific needs.
Each of these options is able to offer protection for the remaining structure of the tooth. Our dentist will make a careful evaluation before opting for these alternatives.
Can you whiten a dental crown?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to whiten dental crowns. These restorations are fabricated of materials that do not respond well to typical teeth whitening procedures.
The porcelain material utilized in crown fabrication is very stain-resistant, so you should not see any stains. If surface stains arise, you can use mouthwash to sweep them away.
Using baking soda can also help eradicate plaque and tartar from the teeth. If you try to whiten your other teeth while you have dental crowns, you may have varying shades after the treatment.
As such, you might have to redo your crowns to color-match your real teeth.
To discover more regarding dental crowns in Plano TX, visit us at McDonald & Luck DDS to talk to our dentist. Contact us at (469) 649-0699 to book an appointment!