Crowns are used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged, or to replace missing teeth. A crown, also called a cap, is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth. A crown not only strengthens the tooth, but it can also dramatically improve the tooth's appearance, shape and alignment.
Crowns may be used to…
• Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a discolored or poorly-shaped tooth
• Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
Crowns and veneers are used to achieve optimal esthetic outcomes. They can be effectively used to correct teeth that are discolored, misshapen, worn, or even misaligned.
Veneers require less tooth reduction than crowns, but each can provide the same level of esthetics. The deciding factor on which option is best to achieve your smile makeover is determined by the overall health of the teeth to be addressed.
Achieving a successful smile makeover begins with careful planning. Impressions are made from the teeth to be treated and models are then built with idealized shapes and positions for teeth.
The actual teeth are then shaped to allow for crown or veneer placement, and temporary crowns/veneers are cemented into place according to he pre-planned models.
Finally, permanent crowns/veneers are fabricated and cemented into place resulting in your beautiful new smile!
Crowns are often used to correct functional issues as well. When teeth fracture, crack, or have large failing fillings, or extreme tooth wear, crowns are the option of choice for restoring the tooth back to like-natural function.
While they also provide beautiful esthetics, crowns are used frequently to save severely damaged teeth.
"Like a lot of people I don't go to the doctor unless I'm sick, so for the dentist I wasn't doing regular visits and low and behold ended up with cavities. Dr. Tom was super nice and professional, no one in the office made me feel bad about my teeth, they just immediately moved on to the treatment steps. Got my cavities filled and all the jaw pain I had for months was gone by the time the numbing wore off. Super grateful for Dr. Tom and his wonderful staff. Also liked how modern their office was, I didn't realize how old school my old dentist was until I came here - the up to date technology made a big difference."
