Dental Health and Tooth Restorations

Dental Health and Tooth Restorations

crowns San AntonioIf you have a large cavity, a typical filling might be inadequate to restore your tooth.  Dental crowns can be an effective alternative in such cases. Dental crowns can also be useful in cases when a tooth damaged by injury must be repaired, and these devices are placed following a root canal to strengthen the teeth, as well.

Dental crowns are hollow tooth-shaped shells that slide on top of your biological teeth after decayed material has been removed, if necessary. Your dentist must remove some enamel to make room for the crown before it can be bonded to your tooth.

The process of getting dental crowns takes place over a series of at least two appointments. At the first session, your dentist will evaluate your case and collect information that is needed for the design of your crown, which is custom-crafted to your unique specifications. You may have x-rays or dental impressions taken at this appointment. Your tooth may also be prepped for crown placement at the first appointment. If so, you may have the opportunity to wear a temporary crown until the permanent device is ready.

The necessary information is then forwarded to a dental lab, which will manufacture the dental crown. When it is ready, the dental crown will be returned to your office, and then you’ll schedule a second appointment to be fitted with the crown.

Be sure that you are satisfied with the crown’s appearance before it is bonded to your tooth. Adjustments can be made before bonding, but the crown cannot be altered further after that point. Additionally, dental crowns do not respond to teeth whitening treatments, so you should have that intervention prior to dental crown placement so that your biological teeth and crown will match.

Dental crowns can help you restore your smile. Contact our office to learn more about this treatment and to schedule an appointment to see how you might benefit from dental crowns.