Dental Crowns
When it comes to restoring the function and appearance of your teeth, there are several options available. Crowns are one of the most common and straightforward treatments, if you have severely decayed or damaged teeth.
Dr. Caleb Coombs at Sunnyslope Dental and Implant Center, OR has extensive experience providing dental crowns to restore your dental health. Call our office today at 503-966-8400 to learn more about our restorative treatments.
What are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are placed on top of a severely damaged or decayed tooth, when fillings are no longer a viable option. Crowns are hollow, allowing the affected tooth to be completely encased inside and protecting it from further damage and decay. Crowns restore the appearance and usage of teeth by looking and functioning exactly like a natural tooth.
When are Dental Crowns Recommended?
Dental crowns are an extremely common treatment, and may be recommended by Dr. Coombs if:
You have a cracked tooth that needs to be held together.
You have a tooth that is severely worn down, chipped or broken.
You have a tooth that requires a larger filling than is possible based on the amount of tooth left as a result of damage or decay.
You have a severely discolored or otherwise unsightly tooth.
You require a dental bridge that requires crowns act as anchors and hold the bridge in place.
You are getting dental implants. A crown is used to fulfil the visible portion of the tooth in implants.
You want to improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth.
Types of Dental Crowns
Dr. Coombs offers several types of dental crown, depending on your budget and dental health goals. During your initial consultation, you will be able to decide which kind you prefer during your consultation appointment.
Metal crown. One of the most low-cost options, metal crowns are often chosen for people worried about repairing the usage of their tooth, rather than cosmetic appearance. Metal crowns are usually chosen to cover teeth in the back of the mouth. The main benefit of metal crowns is their resilience, which is much greater than other materials used for dental crowns.
Stainless steel crown. The are most often used as a temporary cover for teeth, while the final crown is being created.
Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown. As their name suggests, these crowns have a metal shell, which are covered in porcelain. The porcelain can be color-matched, giving a much more aesthetically pleasing appearance. This type of crown is a popular choice for front teeth.
All porcelain crown. Porcelain crowns are a viable option for patients with metal allergies. They’re also the most aesthetically appealing option. However, they also tend to be more expensive.
Dental Crown Process at Sunnyslope Dental and Implant Center and Implant Center
Getting a dental crown is relatively straightforward and only requires a couple of visits to our office. During the first visit, we will prepare the natural tooth for the crown.
This will involve an x-ray of your mouth to determine the extent of the decay above and below the tooth’s surface. A local anesthetic will be administered so that Dr. Coombs can file down the teeth receiving crowns, so the crowns can fit comfortably over the top of the tooth.
In some cases, when a tooth is too small, it may be necessary for Dr. Coombs to use filling material to build the tooth back up, ensuring it supports your new crown.
Once the preparation is complete, special dental putty is used to take an accurate impression of the affected and surrounding teeth. These impressions, along with a color-recommendation (for porcelain crowns), will be sent to a lab for the creation of your custom-designed crowns.
During this interim period, you will be giving a temporary crown. You will also be advised to avoid particularly hard and chewy food. During this time, you should floss horizontally, rather than vertically to avoid pulling the temporary crown out.
During your second visit to our Salem office, Dr. Coombs will administer a local anesthetic to remove the temporary crown and replace it with your permanent crowns.
Caring for your crowns
Although crowns are made of synthetic material, it is just as important to look after them as it is your natural teeth. A strict oral care routine, along with attending regular check-ups with your dentist will help lengthen the lifespan of your crown.
Schedule a Consultation for Dental Crown Today
Waiting to restore a decayed or damaged tooth can be detrimental to your oral health. The damaged tooth can become infected, or even worse, need extraction. When it comes to preserving your smile, Dr. Caleb Coombs and the team at Sunnyslope Dental and Implant Center can skillfully restore the function and appearance of your smile with dental crowns. Schedule an appointment at our modern office in Salem, OR today at 503-966-8400.
