When You Need a Crown
Large cavities that have destroyed significant tooth structure often require crowns. Once decay removes too much of the tooth, a filling won’t provide adequate support or protection. We remove the decay and place a crown over the tooth to hold everything together and prevent further breakdown.
Cracked or fractured teeth benefit enormously from crowns. The crown binds the tooth together, preventing the crack from spreading deeper. Without a crown, cracked teeth often split completely, requiring extraction. Catching cracks early and covering them with dental crowns saves teeth that might otherwise be lost.
Root canal therapy almost always requires a crown afterward. The procedure leaves the tooth more brittle and susceptible to fracture. We place a crown over root canal-treated teeth to protect them from breaking when you bite down.
Severely worn teeth from grinding or acid erosion need crowns to restore proper tooth height and protect what’s left. The crown rebuilds the tooth to its original dimensions, correcting your bite and preventing further damage.
Patient Comfort Options
We take extra steps at Laurel Oaks Dental Care to ensure our patients feel relaxed during every visit. We offer a variety of comfort amenities, including blankets, weighted blankets, eye coverings, sunglasses for kids, and complimentary nitrous oxide to help you stay calm and comfortable throughout your treatment. We aim to make every dental experience as soothing and stress-free as possible.
Types of Crown Materials
All-ceramic crowns have become incredibly popular because they look the most natural. These crowns contain no metal, allowing light to pass through them like natural tooth enamel. We can recommend all-ceramic crowns for front teeth where aesthetics matter most.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns combine strength with decent aesthetics. The metal substructure provides durability, while the porcelain overlay creates a tooth-colored appearance. These crowns work well for back teeth that need extra strength to handle heavy chewing forces.
Zirconia crowns offer the best of both worlds—the natural appearance of ceramic with exceptional strength. Zirconia is incredibly tough and resistant to chipping or cracking. These crowns handle the stress of grinding and clenching better than traditional ceramics, making them excellent choices for patients with these habits.
The Crown Preparation Process
Your first appointment involves preparing the tooth to receive its crown. We numb the area thoroughly so you’re comfortable throughout the procedure. He then removes any decay and shapes the tooth, reducing its size slightly all around to create room for the crown to fit over it.
After shaping the tooth, we take detailed impressions that capture every contour. These impressions go to a dental laboratory where skilled technicians handcraft your custom crown. The lab needs several weeks to create your restoration, so you’ll wear a temporary crown.
Temporary crowns protect your prepared tooth and maintain the space while your permanent crown is being made. They’re not as strong as the final restoration, so we advise avoiding sticky foods and chewing carefully on that side.
Color Matching and Customization
Getting the color right is crucial for dental crowns in Laurel, especially on visible teeth. We don’t just pick a shade—we evaluate your teeth under different lighting conditions and consider multiple color zones within each tooth. Natural teeth aren’t uniform in color. They’re typically darker near the gumline and lighter toward the chewing edge.
We take photos and detailed notes about characteristics like surface texture, translucency, and any unique features that make your teeth distinctly yours. This information allows the lab technician to create a crown that blends invisibly with your smile.
The Final Placement Appointment
When your permanent crown returns from the lab, you return to Laurel Oaks Dental Care for placement. We’ll have you try on the new crown to check the fit, color match, and how it feels when you bite down.
This is your opportunity to evaluate the crown before it’s permanently cemented. Minor adjustments often happen at this stage. The contact points with neighboring teeth might need slight refinement, or the biting surface may require small modifications to perfect your bite.
Once everything checks out, we cement the crown permanently in place. We remove excess cement carefully and check your bite one final time. You leave the office with a fully restored tooth ready for normal use.
Caring for Your Crown
Dental crowns need the same care as your natural teeth. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, paying attention to where the crown meets your gum tissue. Floss daily around your crown to prevent decay and gum disease.
Avoid using your crowned tooth as a tool. Don’t bite your nails, chew ice, open packages, or crack nutshells with your teeth. While crowns are strong, excessive force or trauma can crack or dislodge them. If you grind or clench your teeth, ask us about a nightguard. This protective appliance extends the life of your crowns and protects your natural teeth, too.
How Long Crowns Last
Dental crowns typically last fifteen to twenty years or longer with proper care and regular dental visits. Regular checkups at Laurel Oaks Dental Care allow us to monitor your crowns and catch potential problems early.
Protecting Your Investment
We proudly stand behind the quality of our work. We guarantee all dental treatments to ensure long-term satisfaction and peace of mind. For example, we offer a 5-year crown guarantee when patients maintain regular cleaning appointments. If anything happens to your crown during that time, we’ll replace it at no cost. This commitment reflects our dedication to both quality craftsmanship and ongoing patient care.
Dental Crowns in Laurel
Dr. Fred Walters and Dr. Dorothy Nassar have placed countless dental crowns, helping patients save damaged teeth and restore complete function. They combine technical precision with artistic skill to create crowns that look beautiful and last for years.
Don’t wait until a damaged tooth breaks completely or becomes infected. Contact Laurel Oaks Dental Care today to schedule your crown consultation and protect your smile.
