A dental crown looks exactly like a natural tooth. It fits over a reduced natural tooth, essentially taking the place of the thick enamel. Dental crowns can even be shaped and shaded to blend in well with the rest of the patient’s teeth. Cosmetic dentists apply dental crowns for a number of reasons, but this procedure is primarily done in order to protect, repair, and restore a smile.
Why do I need a crown tooth repair?
Missing teeth can be replaced by permanent dental implants, which imitate the structure of a natural tooth root. The implant is capped by a dental crown—the only visible part of the implant. This is just one of the many possible reasons why your cosmetic dentist has recommended that you get a crown.
Other common reasons to get a dental crown include:
- To restore a broken or cracked tooth
- To protect a tooth badly weakened by decay
- To protect a tooth that has received a very large filling
- To secure a dental bridge
- To improve aesthetic appearance
- To camouflage a severely discolored or misshapen tooth
- To restore a tooth after a root canal
Less commonly, a dentist may recommend a crown for a child who is at a high risk of tooth decay, and isn’t capable of maintaining minimum oral hygiene standards.
Do I have to wait weeks to get my permanent crown?
After you’ve had a procedure, such as a root canal, you may receive a temporary crown. In the meantime, the dentist can take impressions of the tooth, and send the impressions away to a lab. It may take a few weeks for the permanent crown to be fabricated.
But there’s a solution for this inconvenience and added expense: Find a cosmetic dentist with CEREC technology. CEREC eliminates the need for messy impressions, since it uses sophisticated digital mapping software to design the perfect crown for each individual patient. Plus, there’s no need to wait weeks to get your new tooth. You won’t even have to make another appointment. The CEREC milling machine will make your new crown quickly, and your dentist can place it during the same appointment.
I’ve just received my new CEREC crown restoration. What next?
It’s a common misconception that there’s no need to worry about keeping a dental crown clean. It’s true that the composite resin can’t get cavities, but the gums that “hug” it can still get gum disease. Plus, accumulated food debris and bacteria around the crown will contribute to bad breath. That said, dental crowns don’t require any special care. Just follow your normal oral hygiene routine—and remember to floss every day!
Affordable dental crowns in Suffolk County
Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry is pleased to offer CEREC crown technology to our valued patients on Long Island. Here, we pass along the savings of having an on-site CEREC machine directly to our patients. Call (631) 296-0602 to request a consultation with Dr. Nick or Dr. Elliot, and find out if getting a dental crown in Suffolk County is right for you.
Additional CEREC Crown Resources:
- WebMD, Dental Crowns, https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-crowns#1
- SD CEREC, Technology, http://www.sdcerec.com/patients/technology
