When a tooth has a deep fracture or extensive decay, bacteria can set in and cause numerous oral health problems. At Franklin Dental Center, Dr. Donna Franklin-Pitts can offer a personalized solution with dental crowns in Tyler. Each crown is custom-made to fit perfectly over your tooth and provide lasting protection against decay and damage. If you’re ready to do something about a tooth that has been giving you problems, give us a call to find out if a dental crown is what you need.
Also known as a “cap,” a dental crown is a restorative solution designed to fit over the entire visible portion of your tooth to restore its original structure and function. No two crowns are exactly alike, since each one is made by taking impressions of your unique mouth. Because they’re most often made from tooth-colored dental porcelain, they should also look perfectly natural.
Crowns are a popular and versatile solution to a wide variety of dental problems, such as if you have a tooth that:
Crowns are made from different types of material. Early in dentistry, crowns were made from metals and stainless steel. Here at Franklin Dental Center, we use porcelain crowns. The reason that we recommend porcelain is because of its strength and cosmetic appeal. Porcelain provides a better color match than other materials. It is also better for persons who have metal allergies.
Traditionally, having a new crown designed, created, and placed over a tooth will require 2-3 visits to our practice. During your first appointment, your dentist in Tyler will adjust the affected tooth/teeth, take detailed impressions, and send them off to a trusted dental laboratory. We will place a temporary crown in order to protect the tooth in the interim. Once the new crown arrives, you’ll be invited back for a follow-up visit so that we can cement it securely in place and make any last-minute adjustments.
Our practice also happy to now offer dental crowns and other restorations that are created with state-of-the-art CEREC technology! CEREC simplifies this process down to a single convenient appointment while still maintaining the quality you need and deserve.
Dental crowns have been used by dentists worldwide for decades to restore and protect countless smiles. Their outstanding benefits make them a popular treatment. Some of these advantages include:
If you’ve been told that you’re in need of a new dental crown, you may still have some unanswered questions about the restoration. We’re here to help! Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about dental crowns in Tyler. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, just give us a call. We’d be happy to walk you through the process so you can feel prepared.
Dental crowns aren’t technically permanent. However, they are a long-term solution. On average, they can protect your tooth for anywhere from 5 to 15 years. When your dentist reshapes your tooth for a crown, that procedure is irreversible. Tooth enamel can’t grow back after it has been lost, so that tooth will always need a crown to protect it moving forward. That being said, crowns protect the underlying tooth from additional damage, therefore helping the tooth to survive for much longer than it likely would have otherwise.
It is impossible for a crown itself to develop cavities, but the tooth underneath it still can. In fact, a crowned tooth has about the same risk of decay as an uncrowned tooth. Poor oral hygiene makes it possible for bacteria and plaque to form around the gumline where the tooth meets the crown. They can then travel underneath the crown and wreak havoc on the underlying tooth. You can prevent cavities in crowned teeth the same way you would for any other tooth. Brush, floss, and see your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups.
Just like when you get a filling, your dentist will numb the tooth that they’ll be working on when you get a crown. While you shouldn’t feel anything during the procedure itself, you may experience some soreness for a few days afterward, especially if you have also undergone a root canal. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers can help, but give us a call if discomfort persists or worsens.
Within a few days of getting a dental crown, it should start to feel increasingly natural. Crowns are made from durable materials that can stand up to everyday chewing forces just as easily as tooth enamel, so eating with your crown shouldn’t feel strange. The reason that your dentist reshaped your tooth and took impressions was to make sure that the crown fits comfortably in the mouth.
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