At All Smiles Dental Care, we strive to give our patients and clients the best dental care in Phoenix and the surrounding area.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are a type of dental restoration that serve as a component in various treatments. Crowns are also known as “caps,” as they fit down on top of the pre-existing teeth or go over dental implants. The dental crowns are usually made from porcelain; porcelain is the perfect material due to the that it is non-porous, strong and much better in resisting stains on your tooth enamel because it will reflect light in the same way as your natural teeth.
The crown of your tooth is an essential part of your tooth structure. Crowns are most often the part of your tooth that people will see. Crowns can have different surfaces and shapes all dependent on its various functions for each tooth. There is another essential job of a dental crown, and that is in protecting the inside portion of your tooth from decay and bacteria. Your crowns are covered by enamel, and it is robust and hard, but can still be vulnerable to deterioration and damage.
Dental Crowns to Save Your Tooth
If your tooth gets damaged by being cracked or broken the ability of the crown and enamel to take care of the tooth is then compromised. Your dental crown is needed so it can protect the inside of your tooth and keep out the food particles and bacteria. If not, your tooth becomes vulnerable to decay and infection; eventually, you could lose your tooth, or some other dental emergency could come up.
Crowns are used for other reasons such as after a root canal, and when there is a dental bridge being created, or put over a dental implant when a tooth is being replaced. Crowns are used sometimes as an alternative to dental veneers when issues like fixing chipped or broken teeth are being corrected.
Steps Toward a Dental Crown
If the crown is going to be placed over an original tooth, such as in the case with a dental bridge or a root canal, the teeth or tooth must be readied so the crown can fit correctly on the top of the tooth. The tooth prep and delivery of the permanent crown are usually done in a two-step fashion.
All Smiles Dental Care will start by numbing around the tooth that is to be treated by using a local anesthetic. Then, the dentist will reshape the outside of your tooth by removing and shaving part of the tooth material so the crown will fit comfortably over the top of your tooth and as well as with the rest of your teeth. After this process is completed, the dentist will then make the impression of your teeth. This impression will be sent out to a dental lab where they will create a permanent crown that will match your smile. All Smiles Dental Care can then generate and place a temporary crown for sealing and protecting your tooth until you get that permanent crown for placement.
While the permanent crown is being placed, All Smiles Dental Care will take off the temporary crown, make sure your tooth is cleaned up, and then put the permanent one over your prepared tooth. All Smiles Dental Care might need to make some adjustments so he can ensure your crown will feel and fit natural inside your mouth before he/she is permanently cementing your crown in place.
After the Permanent Crowning
Dental crowns were designed to be strong and to last several years if properly cared for. Proper care includes brushing for two minutes two times a day, flossing once a day, and being careful not to eat hard or sticky foods so you don’t break or damage your dental crowns. Be sure you visit All Smiles Dental Care for your regular checkups and teeth cleaning every six months.
Other Services
