Dental Crowns in Ponte Vedra Beach
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth. It is used to cover a restoration and bring back the tooth’s proper shape, strength, and appearance. Above the gumline, the crown is all that can be seen. It is permanent after being cemented into place and functions just like a natural tooth.
Why is a Crown Needed?
- Repair damaged teeth
- Support damaged teeth
- Improve the appearance of teeth
- To cover a fragile tooth due to a large filling
- To hold dental bridges in place
How Do I Know if a Crown is the Right Option?
During a routine checkup, your dentist can determine if you require a crown or not. Other options such as veneers or bridge may be more suitable, depending on your particular situation.
What is a Crown Made Of?
Crowns can be made of porcelain or another type of dental specific ceramic. They can also be made of a metal alloy or the combination of a metal alloy and porcelain.
What is the Crown Procedure Like?
During the first visit, the dentist will take X-rays and will go through an examination. After deciding that a crown is the best option for you, the dentist will anesthetize the area. The dentist will then file down the sides and chewing surface of the tooth to obtain enough room for the crown to fit. How much is filed away depends on the structure and condition of the tooth as well as the crown itself.
The dentist will then take impressions of the tooth and those impressions will either go to the lab for crown formation or, in the case of crowns in a day, will be fabricated in the office. The dentist or the lab will make the crown so it most closely resembles the neighboring teeth in regards to color and shape. If the impressions are sent to the lab, temporary crowns made of acrylic are made and fastened in with temporary cement until the finished product is ready.
If the dentist uses CAD/CAM technology, the permanent crown can be placed in the same day. If the dentist determines it is best to send the impressions to the lab, a follow-up visit is required. During this visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and fit in a permanent crown.
Are There Special Care Procedures for a Crowned Tooth?
While a tooth that has been crowned does not necessarily require any different care, it is important to remember that just because a tooth is crowned does not make the underlined tooth immune from decay or periodontal disease. Therefore, it is crucial to continue following proper oral hygiene practices, including brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day. This is especially important in the areas around the crown area where the gumline meets the tooth. Antibacterial mouth rinse can also help.
It is our goal to be on the cutting edge of technology in order to bring you the highest level of care possible. The Planmeca system does just that!
If you ever needed a crown, inlay, or onlay, you probably remember having to carefully avoid the temporary restoration for weeks while a dental lab fabricated your permanent restoration. The Planmeca system allows us to fabricate your final restoration in our office in a single day.
Although we have this technology, we will always choose the material and treatment approach that will result in the longest lasting and highest quality result for you.
Your restoration can be made from esthetic, tooth-colored porcelain, returning your tooth to ideal function and esthetics. With the recent introduction of Emax porcelain, we can now deliver restorations that are three times stronger than previously available all-porcelain options.
How Does This Happen?
After preparing your tooth for the indicated restoration, your teeth are scanned with a harmless and painless laser, creating a 3D model of your teeth. Using the computer's intelligent software, your restoration is designed and visualized on the screen. The design of your restoration is then sent wirelessly to a CAD-CAM milling unit located in our office. This machine mills your dental restoration from a solid block of porcelain. The restoration is then glazed for smoothness and colored to match the unique shade of your tooth. This unique technology allows us to provide same day service to our patients for many of their advanced dental needs.