Crowns
We offer a Free Consultation to clearly outline a treatment plan for you.
Schedule your Free Consultation 408-249-8888.
We offer a In-House Premier Dental Plan (Low Cost Individual Dental Coverage). This is a discounted fee schedule for most services, only good at Comfort Dental Group. You Save on everything from cleanings & fillings to cosmetic procedures & crown
A crown is a restoration that is placed on teeth that have lost of their structure. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth – covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance.
The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Why is a Dental Crown Needed?
A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:
- To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has worn down
- To protect a weak tooth (from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filing when there isn’t a lot of tooth remaining.
- To hold a dental bridge in place
- To cover a dental implant
We offer a Free Consultation to clearly outline a treatment plan for you.
This consultation is completely FREE to you. You have NOTHING to lose. Call Today to Schedule your consultation 408-249-8888.
What types of Crowns are Available?
Permanent Crowns can be made from all metal, ceramic, all resign or porcelain-fused-to-metal. Here is a brief description of each. We will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each kind for you.
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. They are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and they wear down opposing teeth a little more than metal or resin crowns. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth.
- Metals used in crowns include gold alloy, other alloys such as palladium or a base-metal alloy like nickel or chromium. Compared with other crown types, less tooth structure needs to be removed with metal crowns. Metal crowns withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest. Also, metal crowns rarely break or chip. The metal color is the main drawback. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be color matched to your adjacent teeth. However, more wear occurs to the opposing teeth with this type of crown. The crown’s porcelain portion can also break or chip off. Next to all-ceramic crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. Sometimes the metal underlying the crown’s porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can be a good choice for back or front teeth.
- All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other types of crowns. However they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures.
The process of making a crown includes a number of steps, and usually involves 2 visits to our office.
First Visit:
- At the first visit in preparation for a crown, we may take a few X-rays to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and surrounding bone. If the tooth has extensive decay or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the tooth’s pulp, a root canal treatment may need to be performed first.
- Before the process of making your crown is begun, we will numb your tooth and the gum tissue around the tooth. Next, the tooth receiving the crown is filed down along the chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. The amount removed depends on the type of crown used. If there is a large area of the tooth missing due to decay or damage, we will use a filling material to build up the tooth to support the crown. After reshaping the tooth, we will use impressions paste or putty to make an impression of the tooth that will receive the crown.
- The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory where the crown will be manufactured. The crown is usually ready in 2-3 weeks. If your crown is made with porcelain, we will select the shade that most closely matches the color of your other teeth.
- During the first visit, we will make a temporary crown to cover and protect the prepared tooth while your permanent crown is being made. Temporary crowns are held in place by using a temporary cement.
2nd Visit
At your second visit we will remove your temporary crown and check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If everything is acceptable, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and the new crown is permanently cemented in place.
Caring for you Temporary Crown
Because temporary dental crowns are just that – a temporary fix, we suggest a few precautions be taken with your temporary crown.
These include:
- Minimize use of the side of your mouth with the temporary crown. Shift the bulk of your chewing to the other side of your mouth.
- Avoid sticky or chewy foods (for example chewing gum and caramel). Sticky foods can grab the crown and pull it off.
- Avoid chewing hard foods (like raw vegetables) which can dislodge the temporary crown.
- Slide flossing material out rather than lifting out when cleaning your teeth.
How long to Dental Crowns last?
On average, dental crowns last between 5 and 15 years. The life span of a crown depends on the amount of “wear and tear” the crown is exposed to, how well you follow good oral hygiene practices, and your personal mouth-related habits (you should avoid such habits as grinding or clenching your teeth, chewing ice, biting your fingernails, and using your teeth to open packaging).
What problems can develop from Dental Crowns?
Discomfort or sensitivity: Your newly crowned tooth may be sensitive immediately after the procedure. If the tooth that has been crowned still has a nerve in it, you may experience some heat and cold sensitivity. We can make some recommendations to alleviate some of this type of pain. Pain or sensitivity that occurs when you bite down usually means that the crown is too high on the tooth. If this occurs, give us a call, we can easily fix this problem.
Chipped crown: Porcelain crowns can sometimes chip. If the chip is small, a composite resin can be used to repair the chip without removal of the crown. If the chipping is extensive, the crown may need to be replaced.
Loose crown: Occasionally the cement washes out from under the crown. Not only does this allow the crown to become loose, it allows bacteria to leak in and cause tooth decay to the remaining tooth. If your crown feels loose, call us immediately.
Crowns fall off: Sometimes a crown falls off. If this happens, give us a call.
We offer a Free Consultation to clearly outline a treatment plan for you.
This consultation is completely FREE to you. You have NOTHING to lose. Call Today to Schedule your consultation 408-249-8888.
