Dental Crowns – Calimesa
Build Up and Protect Damaged Teeth
If you’re struggling with a tooth that’s damaged, weakened, or decayed, rest assured that you don’t have to settle for this new “normal.” A custom dental crown can help rebuild what was lost, returning much-needed form, function, and aesthetic appearance to your smile. Here in Calimesa, Dr. Scott Parker is happy to design high-quality dental crowns for patients that fit right into place. Better yet, we primarily offer metal-free, all-ceramic materials for a seamlessly natural appearance! Contact us today to schedule your first appointment with our team. Patients from Cherry Valley, CA and other nearby areas are always welcome.
Why Choose Scott Parker, DDS for Dental Crowns?
- Customized for Optimal Comfort
- Natural-Looking, High-Quality Materials
- We Welcome Dental Insurance
What Is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are customized “caps” that are placed over the chewing surface of decayed and damaged teeth. They are designed to completely cover the remaining structure of a single tooth, helping to preserve it while also replenishing its natural shape and strength. There are several situations where Dr. Parker is likely to recommend a new crown, including:
- Severe tooth decay that can’t be treated with a filling
- Physical injury to a tooth
- Weakened tooth structure that needs support to prevent fracturing
- Significant cosmetic imperfections
- Restoring a single lost tooth that’s been replaced with a dental implant
- Restoring a single tooth that’s been treated with root canal therapy
The Dental Crown Process
Dental crowns are placed over two separate appointments. During the first one, we start by numbing the area with a local anesthetic. Then, we will remove the damaged and decayed portions of your tooth structure. We will also need to remove a small amount of enamel from around the tooth to allow the crown to fit perfectly. Once the teeth are prepared, impressions are taken and sent to the dental lab. We will place a temporary crown on your prepared tooth to keep it safe until your permanent one has been delivered. In just a couple of weeks, you can return to our practice to get your new restoration.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
There are many benefits dental crowns have to offer. Here are some of the most prominent ones;
- Comfortable
- Natural-looking
- Customized
- Protects underlying tooth
- Lasts 15+ years
- Improves chewing ability
- Increases confidence
Dental Crowns FAQs
Are dental crowns permanent?
Dental crowns will eventually need to be replaced, so they cannot be called truly permanent. However, these amazing restorative devices are certainly a long-term solution since they can keep compromised teeth healthy and functional for up to fifteen years or possibly more if they receive excellent care. However, the procedure used to place a dental crown is irreversible since it removes some enamel that will not grow back, so teeth that receive these devices will have to wear them for life for protection against injury and infection. To keep your dental crown in excellent shape for as long as possible, be sure to take great care of it by:
- Practicing excellent oral hygiene while taking care to regularly clean along the seam between your tooth and your dental crown.
- Visiting Dr. Parker’s office regularly for routine checkups and cleanings.
- Being mindful when chewing, especially when enjoying items that are hard, chewy, or sticky.
- Wearing a protective device like a sportsguard or nightguard when appropriate.
How long do dental crowns last?
A dental crown that receives excellent care can usually last between five and fifteen years depending the material it is made from. Metal crowns can sometimes last slightly longer than metal-free ones, but this difference is often negligible. Crowns placed on the molars may not last as long as those placed on the front teeth since they endure more stress during the chewing process. To keep your crowns functional and beautiful, be sure to take excellent care of them by limiting your intake of sugars and acids, practicing excellent oral hygiene, and visiting our office regularly for routine checkups. It’s also best to kick bad oral habits like smoking, nail-biting, grinding, chewing on ice, metal, wood, or plastic, and using your teeth to open packages or bottles.
How do you know when a dental crown needs to be replaced?
Only a qualified oral health professional like Dr. Parker can determine whether a dental crown needs to be replaced, but there a few signs that can suggest your restoration is ready to be retired that you may notice on your own. Be on the lookout for:
- Pain: If the tooth wearing a dental crown is painful, it may be because it has developed an infection. Treating the issue will probably require the device to be removed and possibly replaced.
- Instability: Your dental crown should remain solidly attached to your tooth. If it is wiggling about, it probably needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Degraded appearance: Since your crown should keep your smile beautiful as well as functional, unsightly chips, cracks, and stains may be reason enough to replace it.
- A dark line around the base: An aging porcelain-fused-to-metal crown may show a dark line around its base as the ceramic part separates from the metal part.