Dental Crowns – Dix Hills, NY
Protect Compromised Teeth from Further Harm
The enamel is the strongest substance in the entire body. However, it isn’t indestructible. There are all sorts of ways that teeth can become damaged, including poor oral hygiene, a sports injury, or an unexpected accident. If you have a tooth that is structurally compromised, it becomes vulnerable and is more likely to experience additional damage later on. Fortunately, at Dix Hills Family Dentistry, we offer customized dental crowns to protect compromised teeth from further harm. To find out if a dental crown is right for you, give us a call to learn more!
What is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are custom-crafted “caps” that are made to precisely fit over the chewing surface of damaged or weakened teeth above the gumline. The restoration can be made from a variety of different materials, like gold, ceramic, and porcelain. Dental crowns are generally recommended for the following problems:
- Broken tooth that requires additional support
- Tooth that’s undergone root canal therapy
- Severe decay that’s being repaired with a large filling
- Dental bridge needing support from adjacent teeth
- Severely misshapen or discolored tooth
- Missing tooth being replaced with a dental implant
The Process of Getting a Dental Crown
Having a dental crown placed is a relatively straightforward process, and it can be completed in just two appointments. The first step is to take a look at your mouth to ensure that a dental crown is the best option for you. Once this is confirmed, a thin layer of the enamel needs to be removed. This creates room for the crown to fit comfortably in the mouth and appear natural. An impression is then taken and sent to the dental laboratory where your crown will be crafted.
In the meantime, we will provide you with a temporary crown. This protects your reshaped tooth and helps you become accustomed to how your new dental crown will feel. As soon as your final restoration is complete, you will come back to the practice where it will be adhered using a dental cement.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Dental crowns are able to provide patients with a variety of unique benefits. Here are some of the most prominent that you can experience:
- Feels comfortable
- Appears natural
- Customized to you
- Prevents further damage
- Lasts 15+ years with proper care
- Improved ability to chew
- Increases confidence
Dental Crown FAQs
What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?
One of the nice things about dental crowns is that they can be made of a wide variety of materials, each of which has its own situations that it’s best-suited to.
Porcelain and ceramic are common materials used for dental crowns due to their natural resemblance to enamel. They’re also fairly durable, though not quite as tough as an uncrowned tooth.
For strength above all else, gold dental crowns are the better choice. What they lack in subtlety they make up for in durability and strength.
How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
First of all, it’s worth noting that the only way to know for sure whether your dental crown needs to be replaced is to have it professionally examined. In some cases, we may need to perform an x-ray in order to look inside your tooth and find whether there’s been any damage that you need to deal with.
However, if you notice a fair amount of pain, that your dental crown feels unstable, or any visible imperfections on your dental crown, these are all signs that you should talk to us about replacing your restoration.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Dental crowns themselves are designed to be resistant to tooth decay. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your restoration actually developing a cavity.
That said, the tooth underneath that dental crown is still susceptible to decay. In fact, studies show that a crowned tooth is just as likely to develop cavities as an uncrowned one, meaning that you should maintain excellent dental hygiene if you want to keep your crowned tooth in good condition.
Do Dental Crowns Feel Natural?
Your dental crown’s design will be based on careful measurements of your existing teeth and will be crafted by dedicated professionals who are experts in creating realistic restorations. For these reasons, you can expect your dental crown to feel incredibly natural once it’s been placed in your mouth.
While any change in how your teeth feel will seem a little strange at first, after a while you’ll likely forget that you even have a restoration in your mouth.