Living with an incomplete or compromised smile can take a significant toll on your health, comfort, and confidence. At Dental Studio of Pine Lake, we provide our patients with a comprehensive menu of restorative dental treatments designed to restore the form and function of their smiles - along with their comfort, confidence, and oral health.
A dental crown is a dental restoration. Designed to cap, seal, and completely cover a natural tooth, dental crowns are hollow inside and shaped like a tooth on the outside. They are typically made out of highly durable and naturally looking tooth-colored porcelain.
Dental crowns are used to protect, support, seal, and save a natural tooth. They are often the a last-resort treatment that is needed to avoid tooth extraction. Dental crowns completely cover a natural tooth, supporting its structure and protecting its interior from harmful bacteria.
A dental crown is most commonly applied to a tooth following a root canal procedure that drills a significant cavity, removes the tooth's interior pulp, and sterilizes its internal structures (including the root canals).
Dental implants can also be used to treat teeth that have been weakened or compromised due to significant damage, decay, or injury in the case of large dental caries, chips, breaks, or fractures. They are also often used when old dental fillings are damaged and become loose.
Some restorative treatment applications for dental crowns include:
· Protecting a natural tooth after a root canal procedure
· Strengthening and protecting a severely chipped or cracked tooth
· Protecting a tooth with a significant cavity or decay
· Capping a dental implant to replace a missing tooth
· Anchoring a dental bridge
Additionally, dental crowns are sometimes used for cosmetic purposes to cover an old silver amalgam dental filling or to correct the appearance of a permanently discolored, abnormally sized, or irregularly shaped tooth.
Before receiving a dental crown, a patient's tooth must be prepared. This typically involves shaving down the tooth so that it is a uniform size and shape that will fit a dental crown while creating space to accommodate the dental prosthetic. Dental crowns are permanently attached to a patient's natural teeth using dental cement that creates a secure, long-lasting bond.
The treatment process begins with our dentist preparing the patient's tooth for a dental crown. Tooth preparation might involve a root canal treatment, the drilling and sterilization of a dental cavity, or the simple recontouring of the tooth's exterior. Recontouring removes a thin layer of tooth enamel from the tooth's exterior. This process creates space around the natural tooth that ensures the patient's new crown will fit comfortably over the tooth and result in a comfortable bite.
Once the tooth has been prepared, we use an intraoral digital scanner to collect three-dimensional digital dental impressions. This process eliminates the need for patients to sit for several minutes while biting down on putty-filled dental trays to produce physical dental impressions.
The patient's digital dental impressions are then loaded into our computer system where we use powerful CAD (computer-aided design) software to design the patient's dental crown. Within our software, we create a three-dimensional blueprint for the patient's crown. The crown is designed to fit the patient's mouth perfectly, achieving a comfortable bite, secure fit, and natural look.
We use these blueprints and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) technology to create the patient's dental restoration. Using high-quality, durable materials, our precision milling machine can then print the patient's custom-designed dental crown right inside our office.
Once ready, our dentist will place the dental crown, using dental cement to permanently and securely affix it to the patient's natural tooth.
We can then make any final adjustments to ensure a comfortable fit, natural bite, and attractive appearance before completing the patient's appointment.
We're proud to provide our patients with convenient dental care that delivers exceptional treatment results. At Dental Studio of Pine Lake, we deliver advanced dental care in a comfortable and friendly setting. We use state-of-the-art technology and a gentle, experienced touch to offer patients a superior treatment experience and exceptional treatment outcomes in general, preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry.
If you're in need of a dental crown or restoration, we welcome you to contact our dental office in La Porte to learn more and to request a smile restoration appointment with Dr. Zhang.