Information about Dental Crowns
You’ve probably heard of a dental crown, but do you know what a dental crown is?
At Dentistry at 1818 Market Street, we install dental crowns every day. Our dentists in Philadelphia are dental crown experts.
A dental crown is a cover or “cap” your dentist puts over your tooth.
A crown restores a damaged or missing tooth to its normal shape, size and function. A crown can protect the tooth or improve the way it looks.
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Cover a badly shaped or discolored tooth
- Cover a dental implant
- Attach a bridge to replace missing teeth
What is your crown made from?
At Dentistry at 1818 Market Street, we use crowns made from several types of materials. Metal alloys, ceramics, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal or composite resin may be used. When a crown is made, the material often is tooth colored to blend in with your natural teeth.
When you visit our Philadelphia dental office for your appointment, the dentist will recommend the type of material he thinks is best for you. You want your crown to look natural and fit comfortably in your mouth. To decide which material to use for your crown, you and your dentist will consider many factors, such as:
- the tooth’s location and function
- the position of the gum tissue
- the amount of tooth that shows when you smile
- the color or shade of the surrounding teeth
Getting a crown requires two visits to our center city dentist office.
During the first visit, our dentist will begin the process by checking your jaw, the severity of the damage, and teeth support left. If there is a pre-existing problem like decay, the dentist will remove it first.
Teeth need a little preparation to make it easy for the crowns to bond. This process may cause tooth sensitivity, and local anesthesia is used to numb the gums. A cast or impression of the reshaped tooth is taken to make the permanent crown. Then, the dentist will cover the teeth with temporary crowns to protect them while you wait for the permanent crown to be made.
The second visit to our dental clinic is scheduled three to four weeks after the first visit. The dentist will remove the temporary caps, clean the teeth and gums, and will then fix the permanent crowns.
While crowns and veneers are similar, they are not the same thing. Crowns encase the entire tooth. And veneers only cover the front, visible part of the tooth. Crowns are made thicker than veneers, and sometimes also contain metal, making them stronger than veneers and able to withstand years of chewing. If your tooth is damaged, it is likely our dentist will recommend a dental crown.
Make an appointment today at Dentistry at 1818 Market Street to get your tooth fixed. We’re here to help and don’t want you to live in pain any longer. We look forward to seeing you.
