Dental crowns are one of the most versatile dental procedures available. Both cosmetic and restorative in nature, this durable and long-lasting treatment can fix teeth and make them look better at the same time. At Downtown Dental in Los Angeles, we use natural-looking dental crowns to repair, correct, conceal, and upgrade our patients’ smiles.
Problems Dental Crowns can Fix
Because dental crowns have so many uses, your Los Angeles dentist may recommend this restoration for a variety of oral health concerns.
- Weak tooth: A cracked, broken, or deteriorating tooth is weak and susceptible to even further problems without the protection of a crown.
- Infected tooth: When you have undergone root canal therapy, the treated tooth needs to be covered with a crown for additional protection.
- Damaged tooth: If a tooth is chipped, cracked, or fractured, a crown protects it from bacteria and food particles.
- Misshapen tooth: When you’re living with an unsightly tooth that interrupts your smile, a porcelain crown can make it match its neighbors.
- Stained tooth: A pesky tooth that doesn’t respond to whitening can be transformed with a customized, color-matched crown.
- Decayed tooth: When a cavity is so large that there isn’t enough enamel remaining to support a tooth-colored filling, a crown gets the job done.
- Missing tooth: When you opt to get a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth, porcelain crowns are used as part of this solution, anchoring the bridge in place. Crowns can also be affixed to dental implants or partial dentures.
- Fragile tooth: Teeth that are become repeatedly decayed or show other signs of fragility can be repaired with a strong, customized crown.
As a bonus, any tooth that is treated with a crown automatically makes nearby teeth stronger, protecting them from developing their own damage or complications.
Hi, my name is Dr. Alyssa Hanel, and here at Downtown Dental, we get a lot of questions about what dental crowns are. So today I’m going to give you a little more information on what dental crowns are and what the process is like to get a dental crown. So the first question we often get is, what is a dental crown?
So a dental crown is basically a cover that goes on top of the tooth when the tooth doesn’t have a lot of tooth structure left, or if there’s a big cavity or a fracture in the tooth that requires something that is full coverage to protect the tooth. So the procedure for this is basically we get the patient very numb and comfortable, and then we remove any damaged tooth structure, any fractures, any old fillings. We take all of that out and get the tooth ready for the crown and then we take a small camera and we’ll scan the area and take an image of the area so that we can then mill the crown and create it so that we can place the crown on the tooth and cemented it
In certain cases, sometimes for bigger cases or for more complicated situations, we’ll use lab made crowns. And so the procedure for that is very similar. We’ll get the patient numb and comfortable. We’ll remove all the damaged tooth structure, and then we take an impression and we send that to the lab so that they can make a crown. It takes about two weeks for the lab to make the crown, and then they’ll send that back and we’ll cement it in the next visit.
Some patients wonder when it’s necessary to have a dental crown or if there’s another procedure that can be done instead and so in cases where the tooth only has a small cavity or has most of the tooth structure left, we can simply do a filling or some bonding. But if the tooth is really compromised and we’re missing a lot of the tooth structure, or if there’s a large fracture, we want to do a crown to protect the tooth so that it doesn’t later break or have an issue.
Another question we often get is, what is the difference between a dental crown and a dental veneer?
And so a dental crown is a full surface cap that will go over the entire surface of the tooth, whereas a veneer only goes over the front portion of the tooth.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Once the tooth in question has been treated for decay, infection, or other problems, the crown procedure will begin. This treatment usually takes two visits to your Los Angeles restorative dentist. The first appointment is a prep and planning visit, getting your tooth ready to receive the crown and customizing the crown in shape, size, and color so it can be built to look just like a natural tooth.
Depending on your preferences, budget, and dentist’s preferred materials, crowns can be made from all porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic zirconia, or metal. Crowns are created in a dental lab and, typically, a temporary crown is put in place to protect the area and prevent you from feeling self-conscious about this flaw in your smile until the crown is ready. Once the crown is available, it will be permanently bonded to your damaged tooth and tested for fit, comfort, and so it looks just right and blends in with the rest of your smile.
Get a Dental Crown in Los Angeles
Whether you’re getting a crown to fix a problem tooth or cover up an ugly tooth, the result is the same – a strong, natural-looking repair. Dental crowns are a conservative dental restoration and minimally invasive, but they deliver on so many levels, making a tooth stronger, more robust, and returning it to its original form (or the form it should always have been).
When tooth structure is compromised in any way, whether from damage, trauma, or extensive decay, a crown corrects, conceals, and protects. Dental crowns are designed to look, feel, and function just like natural teeth and do not require any special care. Once the crown is in place, you simply brush and floss as normal and see your dentist regularly for teeth cleanings and dental exams.
If damaged or flawed teeth are keeping you from feeling great about your smile, contact Downtown Dental and find out whether a porcelain dental crown is the right dental restoration for your oral health. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
or
by email at office@downtowndentalLA.com.
Dr. Don Mungcal
Connect on LinkedIn
Dr. Don Mungcal, a distinguished dentist in Los Angeles, combines over three decades of experience with a deep commitment to patient care. A UCLA graduate, he earned his dental degree with honors from the University of the Pacific Dental School in 1990. Dr. Mungcal has been recognized as a Best Dentist in Downtown by the “Los Angeles Downtown News” for four years in a row and served as an instructor at USC Dental School. As an active member of the California Dental Society, among other prestigious organizations, he continually updates his expertise through extensive continuing education.
