Why would someone need a crown?
For various reasons, teeth can break or become weak or discolored over time. Tooth decay, injuries, dental procedures like large fillings or root canals, certain medications, and just general daily use of your teeth can cause teeth to become discolored, less strong, or even break.
What are the different types of dental crowns?
There are several types of dental crowns; including full crowns, ¾ crowns, or “onlays”, which cover just a portion of your natural tooth. Partial crown options are only appropriate for people whose existing tooth structure is strong.
Traditional dental crowns are created in a specialized lab from a scan or mold of your teeth taken in your dentist’s office. This type of crown requires you to come back for at least one additional visit to have the crown installed.
At Today’s Dental, we have specialized training and computer-assisted technology to create and apply a custom crown for our patients right in the office. These same-day crowns are called “CEREC” crowns, which stands for “Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics”. They are made of a very strong ceramic material and tend to be one of most natural-looking options for a crown.
Your dentist will know which type of crown is best for your individual situation and can discuss your insurance coverage and the out-of-pocket costs for each type of crown.
What can I expect if I need a crown?
If you have become a candidate for a crown on one or more of your teeth, here is what you can expect:
X-rays
Your dentist will examine the tooth and take X-rays to evaluate the tooth and jawbone.
Medication
You’ll be given an injection of numbing medication to prevent pain and discomfort during this procedure.
Filing & Shaping
The dentist will shape your tooth by filing it down. Filing and shaping your natural tooth makes space for the crown to be placed over the top of your natural tooth.
Impressions
Impressions or digital scans of your teeth are taken so your new crown can be custom made to fit tightly and work just like your natural tooth.
Temporary Crown
If your crown is being sent to a lab to be created, you’ll have a temporary crown placed while you wait for the permanent one. You’ll come back in a couple of weeks for your dentist to place the crown and adjust for comfort or functionality.
CEREC Crown
Alternatively, if you’re having a CEREC crown, your dentist will use computer scans to create a custom crown right there in the office – you’ll leave the office that day with your new, permanent crown.
One important thing to know about dental crowns
If you have any tooth decay, infection, or there has been an injury to the tooth pulp (soft center of the tooth made up of nerves, blood vessels, and tissue), you may have to undergo a root canal to prepare for the crown. If you will need to have a root canal, your dentist will discuss this procedure with you..
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a special device designed to fill the gap where there is a missing tooth or teeth. A missing tooth can make you feel self-conscious, cause problems with your bite alignment and affect the way you chew.
It is important to have this problem corrected to help prevent more serious problems in the future. If left untreated, your teeth can begin to shift and spread out into the gap created by the missing tooth or teeth. Over time, this misalignment and shifting can cause pain and uneven wearing of your teeth.
What types of bridges are available?
There are different types of bridges, but the most common is the traditional fixed bridge. For this treatment, your dentist will put crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap created by the missing tooth/teeth. Then, a false tooth (called a Pontic) is anchored to the new crowns, creating a “bridge” to hold the false tooth in place.
Bridges can be made of metal, porcelain, ceramic, or a combination of those materials. There is also an option for a bridge to be produced the same day as your visit. Your dentist will discuss the right type of bridge for your unique situation.
What can I expect if I need a bridge?
Usually, you will have more than one appointment for this treatment. Here is what you can expect if you need a dental bridge:
Medication
You’ll be given an injection of medication in your mouth to prevent pain and discomfort.
Abutment Teeth
Your dentist will reshape the teeth on either side of the gap (called “abutment teeth”) to prepare them for a crown.
Impressions
Impressions or a digital scan will be made to help ensure the crowns, false teeth, and bridge fit correctly and match the look of your natural teeth.
Temporary Bridge
After all this preparation is done, your dentist will create a temporary bridge for you to wear while your new permanent one is made.
Permanent Bridge
When your permanent bridge is ready, you’ll come back for a second visit to have it installed in your mouth. Your dentist will make any necessary adjustments to the new bridge to make sure it is comfortable.
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