At Creekside Dental, we understand that maintaining a healthy, functional smile is essential to your overall well-being, appearance, and confidence. Dental crowns offer an effective solution to restore both function and appearance when teeth become damaged or weakened. Dental crowns are custom-made caps that completely cover a damaged tooth, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance while providing long-lasting protection.
As Kennewick’s premier dental practice, we’ve helped countless patients regain their smiles through expertly crafted and precisely placed crowns; these versatile restorations are a cornerstone of modern restorative dentistry, providing a reliable solution for various dental concerns. Whether you’re considering crowns for the first time or looking to replace existing restorations, this comprehensive guide will help you understand everything you need to know about this important dental treatment option.
When Are Dental Crowns Needed?
Dental crowns serve multiple purposes in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Our experienced team at Creekside Dental may recommend crowns in several situations:
1. Severely Decayed or Damaged Teeth
A dental crown provides comprehensive protection when a tooth has extensive decay that cannot be adequately treated with a filling. Similarly, severely chipped or cracked teeth often benefit from crowns’ complete coverage, preventing further damage and potential infection.
2. Post-Root Canal Treatment
Teeth undergoing root canal therapy are typically more brittle and susceptible to fracture. A crown after a root canal acts as a protective barrier, reinforcing the tooth structure and preventing breakage. Most endodontically treated teeth require dental crowns to ensure long-term survival and functionality.
3. Restoration of Broken or Worn-Down Teeth
Dental crowns offer a comprehensive solution for teeth that have been broken due to trauma or significantly worn down from grinding (bruxism). Crowns restore both the structural integrity and the proper dimensions of your tooth, ensuring proper bite alignment and function.
4. Cosmetic Improvement
When teeth are severely discolored, misshapen, or have other aesthetic issues that cannot be addressed with less invasive treatments, crowns can transform their appearance completely. At Creekside Dental, we create natural-looking dental crowns that blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth, giving you the smile you’ve always wanted.
5. Support for Dental Bridges
Crowns serve as anchors (abutments) for dental bridges, providing secure support for replacement teeth when one or more adjacent teeth are missing. These supportive dental crowns ensure the stability and longevity of your bridge restoration.
6. Covering Dental Implants
The visible portion of a dental implant restoration is typically a crown. These implant-supported dental crowns are specially designed to attach to the implant post, creating a restoration that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth.
Types of Dental Crowns
At Creekside Dental, we offer and recommend various types of crowns to suit different clinical situations and patient preferences:
1.Porcelain and Ceramic Crowns
These dental crowns offer the most natural appearance, closely mimicking natural tooth enamel’s translucency and light-reflecting properties. Porcelain and ceramic crowns are ideal for front teeth and visible areas of your smile where aesthetics are paramount. Our patients appreciate how these dental crowns can be precisely color-matched to blend with surrounding teeth.
2. Metal Crowns
Composed of gold alloy or base metals like nickel or chromium, metal crowns offer unparalleled durability and strength. While less aesthetically pleasing than tooth-colored options, metal dental crowns are excellent for molars with the most significant chewing forces and minimal visibility. These crowns typically require less tooth reduction, are highly resistant to wear, and tend to have a lower upfront cost.
3. Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns
These hybrid dental crowns combine the strength of a metal substructure with the aesthetics of a porcelain exterior. PFM crowns offer a good balance of durability and appearance, making them versatile options for various locations in the mouth. However, the metal margin may become visible if gum recession occurs.
4.Resin Crowns
These dental crowns are generally more affordable than other options made from composite resin materials. While they may not offer the same longevity as other materials, resin crowns can be an appropriate short-term solution for some patients. They’re also less abrasive to opposing teeth than some harder materials.
5. Same-Day Crowns
At Creekside Dental, we use advanced CEREC technology to create custom ceramic dental crowns in one visit. This eliminates the need for temporary crowns and multiple appointments, allowing you to receive your permanent restoration in just one day. These computer-designed and milled crowns offer excellent precision and a natural appearance.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Dental work can be intimidating. Understanding what to expect during your crown procedure at Creekside Dental can help alleviate any concerns.
1. Initial Exam and Tooth Preparation
Your journey begins with a comprehensive examination to determine if a dental crown is the appropriate treatment. If so, we prepare your tooth by removing a small amount of the outer surface to create space for the crown. The amount removed depends on the type of crown selected.
2. Impressions and Temporary Crown Placement
After preparing your tooth, we take precise impressions using advanced digital scanning technology or traditional impression materials. These impressions provide the exact dimensions needed to craft your custom dental crown. While your permanent crown is being fabricated, we place a temporary crown to protect your prepared tooth.
3. Permanent Crown Fabrication
Your impressions are sent to our trusted dental laboratory, where skilled technicians craft your custom crown according to our specifications. This process typically takes about two weeks for traditional crowns. However, with our CEREC technology, certain same-day crowns can be milled in the office during your appointment.
4. Final Fitting and Cementation
When your permanent crown is ready, we remove the temporary restoration and carefully check the fit, shape, and color of your new dental crown. After any adjustments, we permanently bond the crown to your tooth using special dental cement. Finally, with your new restoration, we ensure your bite feels comfortable and natural.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Investing in dental crowns at Creekside Dental offers numerous advantages for your oral health and quality of life:
1. Protection and Strengthening
Crowns provide comprehensive protection for damaged or weakened teeth, preventing further deterioration. By encasing the entire visible portion of the tooth, dental crowns distribute chewing forces evenly and reduce the risk of tooth fracture and damage to the surrounding teeth.
2. Restored Function and Appearance
A properly fitted crown can restore full chewing function and speech with confidence. Our meticulously crafted dental crowns restore compromised teeth’ form and function, allowing you to eat comfortably and smile confidently.
3. Prevention of Further Damage
Crowns create a protective barrier against bacteria and decay by covering exposed, damaged areas of a tooth. This protection is significant for teeth that have undergone root canal treatment or have large fillings that have weakened the natural tooth structure.
4. Longevity
Quality dental crowns can last 15 years or more with proper care and maintenance. At Creekside Dental, we use premium materials and precise techniques to ensure your crowns provide lasting value and performance alongside continued preventative dental care.
5. Enhanced Confidence
Dental crowns can dramatically improve the appearance of damaged or unsightly teeth, boosting your self-confidence and willingness to share your smile. Our natural-looking crowns blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth, creating a harmonious, aesthetic result.
Caring for Dental Crowns
To maximize the lifespan of your dental crown and maintain optimal oral health, follow these essential care tips:
1. Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene
While crowns cannot decay, the underlying tooth structure and surrounding gum tissue remain susceptible to problems. To reduce bacteria, brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss carefully around your dental crowns, and use an antimicrobial mouthwash.
2. Avoid Excessive Force
Although durable, crowns can still be damaged by extreme forces. Avoid chewing ice, biting fingernails, or using your teeth as tools. If you grind or clench your teeth, ask us about a custom nightguard to protect your dental crowns and teeth.
3. Be Mindful of Certain Foods
Extremely sticky or hard foods can potentially dislodge or damage crowns. Exercise caution with foods like caramel, hard candies, and chewy bread immediately following crown placement.
4. Regular Dental Check-ups
Schedule regular examinations at Creekside Dental so we can monitor the condition of your dental crowns and address any issues promptly. Professional cleanings are also essential to maintain the health of your gums around crowned teeth.
Risks and Considerations
While dental crowns are generally very successful, it’s essential to be aware of potential complications. Some patients experience temporary sensitivity to temperature or pressure after receiving crowns, which typically subsides within a few weeks as their tooth adjusts to the new restoration. Though rare, dental crowns can occasionally become loose or dislodged. If this occurs, contact Creekside Dental immediately to have the crown re-cemented or replaced if necessary. The financial investment in crowns varies depending on the material, complexity, and number of teeth treated. At Creekside Dental, we work with insurance providers and offer financing options to make quality dental crowns accessible to our Kennewick patients.
Why Choose Creekside Dental for Your Dental Crowns
At Creekside Dental, we combine technical expertise with an unwavering commitment to patient comfort and satisfaction. We use advanced technology and techniques, personalized care, and a comfort-focused experience. Our practice utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and materials to ensure precision and predictability in crown placement. From digital impressions to shade-matching technology, we leverage innovation to enhance your results.
We understand that every patient’s situation is unique. Our approach to dental crowns is tailored to your specific needs, preferences, and oral health goals. Many patients feel anxious about dental work, and we take the time to discuss all options thoroughly, ensuring you’re confident in your treatment plan. Our compassionate team prioritizes your comfort at every step, offering sedation options and a soothing environment to make your experience as pleasant as possible. Our satisfied patients throughout Kennewick and the surrounding communities trust us for their restorative needs. Our dental crowns’ longevity and natural appearance speak to our commitment to excellence in every restoration we create.
How Creekside Dental Can Help You
Dental crowns remain one of modern dentistry’s most versatile and practical solutions for protecting, strengthening, and enhancing damaged teeth. At Creekside Dental, we’re proud to offer exceptional crown restorations that stand the test of time while looking completely natural.
If you’re experiencing tooth pain, have visible damage, or are simply interested in learning more about how dental crowns might benefit your smile, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our experienced team. Schedule a consultation with Creekside Dental in Kennewick today and take the next step toward restoring your smile today!
