What are dental crowns?
Dental crowns are what you can consider a cap that goes around your tooth to protect your tooth from further damage.
What are some alternatives to dental crowns?
Some alternatives to dental crowns can be onlays and inlays. It all depends on the amount of damage that was done to the tooth and how we would want to restore it.
What types of dental crowns are there?
There are many types of dental crowns. The ones that we do in our office are usually full crowns and 3/4 crowns.
What materials are used for dental crowns?
Dental crowns can also come in different materials. The materials that we use in our office are ceramic crowns and, in some rare cases, gold crowns.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ceramic and gold crowns?
The advantages and disadvantages of some of the materials that we use are, for example, if we do ceramic crowns, they are very long-lasting. They're more aesthetic. Gold crowns are thinner, and they are also very long-lasting, but they're mostly recommended for back teeth.
Are dental crowns necessary after root canal treatments?
We do get asked the question, “Are dental crowns necessary after root canal treatments?” The answer in most cases is yes. If root canal treatments have been done on the back teeth, the answer is definitely yes. If they are done on the front teeth, we have to check and determine if they are actually required.
What is the dental crown procedure like?
The dental crown procedure is usually two appointments. At the first appointment, we create a preparation around the tooth to prepare it for the crown, and the second appointment would be delivering the crown, where we place the cap on the tooth and seal the margins.
Do dental crown placements hurt?
Dental crown placements do not hurt because we always numb our patients to prepare and place the crowns.
Are there any consequences to getting a tooth crown?
Getting a tooth crown does not have any consequences. It only lasts as long as you take care of it, though. Maintenance of the crown is very, very important.
Do dental crowns look like natural teeth?
Crowns are manufactured to look like your natural teeth. When we do ceramic crowns, they also have the same color as your own tooth. But if we do gold crowns, they're obviously going to look like a gold tooth.
Can you get cavities on crowns?
You cannot get cavities on crowns. But if you do not take care of your crowns, you can get cavities around the margins of your crowns, which is your natural tooth, which then would require your crowns to be replaced.
How do you take care of dental crowns?
Dental crowns require maintenance and taking care of, just like your natural teeth, but a little bit more because they are a combination of your natural tooth and a ceramic tooth. Taking care of your dental crowns would require more dental cleanings, making sure that you clean around the margins of the crowns, and not biting or chewing on hard materials such as nuts. Also, taking care of your crown requires not chewing on very, very sticky substances, as it can take out your crown.
How long do dental crowns last?
Dental crowns can last as long as you take care of them. We usually expect a dental crown that is done well and taken care of to last at least 10 to 15 years.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (310) 499-2048 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!