What Is a Dental Crown?
Damage to your teeth can happen in a variety of ways. You can chip a tooth on food. A tooth may get cracked as a result of a fall. Decay can eat away at the structure of your tooth. No matter how damage occurs, it needs to be treated to prevent serious issues such as infections in the affected teeth.
A dental crown is a restoration for damaged teeth. It resembles the crown of your tooth and is designed to completely cover the entire visible surface. It essentially acts as a cap for your damaged tooth, protecting it and providing strength.
What Are Crowns Made From?
There are several different types of crowns, made from different materials.
- Metal: Metal crowns are the strongest crowns available, able to stand up to the strongest biting forces. This makes them ideal for damaged teeth at the back of your mouth. However, despite their superior strength, these crowns are silver or gold in color and stand out from the rest of your teeth.
- Porcelain fused to metal: This type of crown consists of a metal base covered by a porcelain coating. This combines the strength of metal around the tooth with the aesthetics of porcelain. While more aesthetically pleasing, these crowns often show a thin metal line at the bottom near the gums.
- Ceramic: Ceramic crowns are the most aesthetic option available. While not as strong as metal, ceramic is still able to withstand most normal use and blends in perfectly with the rest of your smile. Ceramic can be made to match the color of your surrounding teeth perfectly. The material also reflects light similarly to enamel, making it impossible to tell the difference between the restoration and your natural teeth.
Why Get Dental Crowns?
There are several benefits to dental crowns, including:
- Providing strength for a weakened tooth.
- Holding a damaged tooth together, preventing further damage.
- Protecting a tooth from infection.
- Certain crowns restore the functions of a damaged tooth while also restoring its appearance. Ceramic crowns blend in perfectly with the rest of your teeth.
- Holding a dental bridge in place or covering the screw of a dental implant.
How Are Crowns Placed?
Crowns typically take two visits to complete. At your first appointment, we prepare the damaged tooth and take an impression. Preparing the tooth is done under a local anesthetic. We remove some of the enamel from the tooth, reducing it in size. This is done to ensure a natural, comfortable fit. We then take an impression of your mouth. This impression is sent to a dental lab, where your crown is designed and created. It can take up to two weeks for your crown to be completed and sent back, so a temporary crown is placed while you wait, providing your tooth with protection. Once the final restoration is ready, you return for your second appointment. During this appointment, the crown is checked for proper fit and color match and cemented into place.
Damaged teeth need to be treated to prevent serious oral, and overall, health complications. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Shenandoah Family Dentistry today at 540-773-0234.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Crowns
Where can I get a dental crown in Winchester, VA?
Shenandoah Family Dentistry provides dental crowns in Winchester, VA, at 1705 Amherst St#102 Winchester, VA 22601. The office serves patients from Winchester, Frederick County, Stephens City, Berryville, Front Royal, and nearby Northern Virginia communities.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a custom restoration that covers the entire visible portion of a damaged tooth. It acts like a protective cap, restoring strength, shape, chewing function, and appearance.
When is a dental crown needed?
A dental crown may be recommended for a tooth that is cracked, chipped, weakened by decay, or at risk of further damage. Crowns can also support a dental bridge or cover a dental implant.
What are dental crowns made of?
Dental crowns may be made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramic. Each material has different strengths and appearance characteristics. Shenandoah Family Dentistry can discuss the material options based on the tooth’s location and your treatment needs.
How long does it take to get a dental crown in Winchester?
Dental crowns at Shenandoah Family Dentistry typically require two appointments. After the first visit, the dental lab creates the final crown, which may take up to two weeks. A temporary crown protects the tooth until the final restoration is placed.
What happens during the first crown appointment?
At the first visit, the tooth is prepared under local anesthetic so the crown can fit comfortably. An impression is then taken and sent to the dental lab. A temporary crown is placed to protect the prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being made.
Is getting a dental crown painful?
Local anesthetic is used during tooth preparation to help keep the appointment comfortable. Mild sensitivity can occur after the procedure, especially while wearing the temporary crown, but it often improves as the tooth settles.
How long do dental crowns last?
With consistent brushing, flossing, routine dental visits, and care around hard foods or objects, dental crowns can provide long-term protection. Call 540-773-0234 to schedule a dental crown consultation at Shenandoah Family Dentistry in Winchester, VA.
