Do you have an injured tooth? Does your tooth need more stability following your root canal treatment? Receive dental crown treatment at Oxford Family Dentistry in Oxford, PA. Tooth crowns are dental restorations that come with many benefits. Dr. Stefan Speck collaborates with his patients as individuals to find the best dental solution for their specific needs. He recommends tooth crowns for patients with more extensive tooth damage or wear.
Dental Crown Treatment
Dr. Speck will consult with you to determine if a dental crown is the best treatment option for your needs. We’ll perform a thorough oral exam and discuss your budget, cosmetic goals, medical history, and oral health needs. We may also use diagnostic tools like x-rays to ensure we have a complete picture of the tooth in question.
To start dental crown treatment on a natural tooth, we must first prepare it. We must remove some tooth structure so there’s enough room to place the crown completely over the tooth. Impressions are taken to send to the lab so that they can make a custom restoration. We receive the crown in about two to three weeks. You return to our office, and we check that it fits properly. When you’re satisfied, we permanently bond the restoration.
The process is a bit different when the dental crown is for a dental implant. Implant posts have to be surgically placed in your jaw and heal for three to six months before we proceed with completing the restoration. We create a crown that matches the shade, size, and shape of the rest of your teeth so that it blends in seamlessly. When the implants heal, we can attach the crown to an abutment to connect the implant post to the crown.
The Uses of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a popular tool for dentists. One of the main reasons is that dental crowns are able to treat a wide variety of both cosmetic and restorative issues.
Cosmetic Dental Fixes
When patients have discolored teeth, professional teeth whitening is the go-to fix. However, not all tooth discoloration responds to traditional whitening methods. Teeth bleaching won’t impact deeper staining or discoloration due to trauma. We color-match a dental crown so that it’s the shade of white that you desire. It covers the entire tooth so that the discoloration is no longer visible.
Misshapen and deformed teeth are clearly cosmetic issues, but they have functional impacts, too. Depending on where the disfigured tooth is in your mouth, it can impact how you speak or eat. The tongue uses your teeth to form sounds when talking. If it’s a molar that’s deformed, you may not be able to chew certain foods properly or have a balanced diet. A dental crown not only improves the look of the tooth, but ensures that it functions normally.
Strengthening Natural Teeth
One of the main functions of a dental crown is to stabilize the tooth after a root canal. During a root canal procedure, we remove infected dental pulp from the inside of your tooth, refilling it with a biocompatible resin. It seals off the tooth from further infection, but doesn’t always let the tooth regain its full integrity. A dental crown provides an extra barrier against bacteria and helps your tooth reach full functionality again.
When you get a traditional dental bridge, the two teeth at either side of the bridgespan anchor it. But it puts a lot of stress on these teeth. They’re more likely to wear down prematurely, succumb to tooth decay, or have other dental issues. We can use a dental crown to strengthen these anchor teeth, so the crown is taking on the brunt of the stress. This keeps your natural tooth structure safe.
Treating Severe Damage or Decay
Dental crowns are the last line of defense for a tooth that’s severly damaged or decayed. If your tooth is fractured, it holds the pieces together so that you can keep the tooth root. For decay, it fills in those empty spaces left by decay so you have a whole tooth again. We practice conservative dentistry because we recognize the benefits that come with having natural tooth structure. We’ll use a crown as often as possible to save a tooth.
Crowns are helpful, too, when a chunk of your tooth has broken off. It leaves the dental pulp and nerves inside the tooth exposed to bacteria. It’s also painful for food and other things to come into contact with the sensitive tissue inside the tooth. A dental crown fills out the part that broke up, protecting the tissue inside.
Completing a Dental Implant
Lastly, dental crowns are the top choice to complete a dental implant restoration. Implants both look and feel the most like natural teeth, and the crown is a big part of it. We match the size, shape, and shade so that it blends in perfectly with your smile. No one will be able to tell that it isn’t a real tooth.
Dental Crown FAQs
Discover more about dental crowns and similar restorations below:
Am I a candidate for dental crowns?
During a consultation with Dr. Speck, he will help determine if dental crowns are the right dental restoration for you. He will ensure that you are in good health so that your teeth or implants are unaffected by a dental or gum infection. If you have a missing tooth or teeth that require dental implants, Dr. Speck will ensure that you have enough jawbone tissue to support the implants.
Dr. Speck always ensures that his patients are healthy so that their dental crowns or restorations remain stable.
What are inlays and onlays?
Inlays and onlays resemble dental crowns, fillings, and tooth bonding. These indirect restorations are typically made for patients with a weakened or damaged tooth due to decay. Inlays cover the chewing surfaces of the tooth between the cusps or the sides of the tooth. Onlays cover the chewing surface and the tooth cusps. Both inlays and onlays blend in with the shade of the tooth enamel for a natural look.
How long do dental crowns last?
Tooth crowns are a strong and durable dental restoration that can last up to 30 years with the right care. To keep them clean, patients should brush and floss between their dental crowns like natural teeth. Taking care of the natural teeth and gums surrounding tooth crowns helps ensure that the teeth or gums beneath the dental crowns stay healthy.
Are tooth crowns painful?
No. A tooth crown is usually not painful. Most patients tolerate tooth crowns well and report minimal pain following the procedure. Because of anesthetics and sedation, it is only mild if patients experience any discomfort.
Can I get a cavity under a tooth crown?
Yes. A cavity can form under a tooth crown if there is a break in the seal between the crown and the tooth. This is very rare. Plaque will form if bacteria can invade the space under the crown, and tooth decay will develop. To prevent a cavity from forming under a tooth crown, it is important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine by brushing and flossing regularly. It is also important to have regular dental checkups and cleanings so that your dentist can detect any damage to the seal between the crown and tooth and treat it early.
How long does it take to get a dental crown?
It usually takes two appointments to get a dental crown. During the first appointment, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This impression will be sent to a lab where the dental crown will be made. Once the dental crown is ready, you will have another appointment with your dentist. During the second appointment, your dentist will fit and bond the dental crown to your tooth.
Crowns Before & After
Request a Dental Appointment
Do you want to learn more about dental crowns, inlays, or onlays? Schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Speck online today. You can also contact Oxford Family Dentistry for an appointment at 610.753.4506.