Dental Crowns
Cosmetic and Restorative Dental Services by Michael J. Spitzer, DDS
About Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a metal, porcelain, resin, or ceramic covering that fits over a tooth damaged from decay, trauma, or wear over time. In certain cases and procedures, Dr. Spitzer may recommend crowns to protect a weak tooth that is severely cracked or to cover a tooth that has received a root canal treatment, for example. Crowns are made with the grooves and cusps that normal teeth have so that they can function virtually as normal teeth.
Used in both cosmetic and restorative dentistry, the placement of dental crowns protects your oral and dental health, improves your appearance and restores a natural feel and function to your smile.
Protect your natural tooth, restore it's function, and improve the appearance of the tooth with a dental crown.
What is a dental crown?
Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth.
Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.
Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
Process for Placing a Dental Crown
A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. An impression is then made from the existing tooth to create a custom-designed crown. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place.
Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas.
Caring for Your Dental Crown
With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration. Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.
If you are looking for a trusted general and cosmetic dentist who specializes in both aesthetic and restorative dental crowns, serving Costa Mesa, CA and Coastal Orange County, schedule an appointment with Dr. Spitzer today.
A healthy, confident smile starts here.
Address
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
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Phone & Fax
(949) 642-2019 fax