Serving: Salida, Poncha Springs, Beuna Vista, Leadville, Gunnison, Crested Butte, Montrose and the rest of Central Colorado
What are dental crowns?
Dental crowns are like a cover or ‘cap’ for a tooth that fit over the remaining tooth to protect it from breaking.
Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, discoloration and others. If you feel your smile isn’t what it once was, crowns can help you recover your smile. If your dentist notices that a tooth is decayed or seems weakened/cracked a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be sufficient.
Dental crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or a full gold crown. To maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is best, as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and appear just like one of your natural teeth.
Why are crowns recommended?
Crowns are recommended for teeth that have been structurally weakened by large cavities and have large fillings or root canal treatment
With fillings removed you can clearly see the cracks in the remaining tooth resulting in structural weakness where a simple filling cannot prevent the tooth from fracturing.
Defined crack in the remaining tooth with filling removed
Notice areas where tooth is breaking down around old fillings and decay is starting.
What does the procedure involve?
The outer perimeter of the tooth is reduced to accommodate the thickness of the crown (about 1-2 millimeters) and a digital impression is taken with our optical scanner and a temporary crown is placed while your new permanent crown is made by our ceramists.
The process of installing a crown takes 2-3 visits to the dentist. On the first visit, the tooth will be reshaped by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that your new crown can be made so that it fits in the spot created for it and looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready.
The crown takes about 2-3 weeks to be returned to your dentist. At this time you will have another appointment to place and fit the permanent crown. You will again have a local anesthetic to numb the area and the tooth will be placed using a cement to ensure the tooth sets in place.
What will it look like?
Your dental crown will look just like a natural tooth and will be the same size as the original tooth when the crown is in place.
When you look in the mirror, you will see your old smile back. Crowns are durable and will usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing.
What are the consequences of not getting a crown?
Teeth that have been structurally weakened by large fillings or root canal treatment can fracture and require more complex treatment or even extraction.
