A damaged or decayed tooth does not always have to be pulled. In many cases, a dental crown can restore what is left of the tooth, which is why so many patients ask about this restorative dental procedure.
Before you sit in the chair, it helps to know what to expect. Our Kalamazoo, MI, dentist often gets asked plenty of questions before treatment, and that is a good thing. We’re here to help!
Here are answers to the questions we hear most about dental crown treatment.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over the entire visible part of a tooth above the gum line. It works to restore its normal shape, size, and strength while improving how the tooth looks.
When Would I Need a Dental Crown?
Our local family dentist may suggest the dental crown procedure when a tooth is too damaged for a filling but still healthy enough to save. Common reasons include a cracked tooth, a large cavity, a tooth treated with root canal therapy, the need to cover a dental implant or anchor a dental bridge.
What Are Dental Crowns Made of?
Tooth crowns are made from a few different materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal, and porcelain fused to metal. Tooth-colored ceramic and porcelain blend in with your natural smile, while metal holds up well on out-of-sight back teeth. At Kalamazoo Smiles, we offer porcelain dental crowns for patients.
What Happens During the Dental Crown Procedure?
Getting a dental crown usually takes two visits. First, our dentist removes a small amount of enamel, takes an impression of the tooth, and places a temporary crown while the permanent one is made. At the second visit, the new dental crown is checked for color, size, and fit, then bonded into place.
Do Dental Crowns Hurt?
Dental crown placement should not be painful, because the tooth and gums are numbed during treatment. Some tenderness or sensitivity to hot and cold is normal for a week or two afterward and usually settles on its own.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
With good care, most dental crowns last 5 to 15 years. How long yours lasts depends on the material, your bite, and how well you keep up with brushing, flossing, and regular checkups.
How Do I Care for a Dental Crown?
Care for a crown the same way you care for natural teeth. Brush twice a day, floss once a day, and avoid chewing ice or very hard foods that could crack it.
Keep up with a cleaning and exam every 6 months so our team can check the crown and the tooth underneath it. The same daily habits that protect a crown also help you care for porcelain veneers and other restorations.
Is a Dental Crown the Same as a Veneer?
No. A traditional dental crown covers the whole tooth to restore its strength, while porcelain veneers are thin shells that cover only the front of a tooth for cosmetic reasons.
Both treatments are among the different types of cosmetic dentistry that improve a smile. If a tooth is too healthy for a crown but too worn for a filling, our dentist may suggest dental inlays or onlays instead.
How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?
The depends on the material used, the tooth being treated, and your dental insurance coverage. Our Kalamazoo Smiles team can walk through your options before treatment begins.
Schedule an Appointment
A dental crown can add years to a tooth that would otherwise be lost. To find out whether this form of treatment is right for you, talk with our dentist in Kalamazoo, MI. To get started, please call one of our Kalamazoo Smiles locations today or request an appointment online.
