At Dental Care South, we offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry services that improve your smile in terms of functionality and aesthetics. One such treatment is the application of dental crowns.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a permanent covering that fits over a decayed, damaged, or cracked tooth. Because of its full coverage, dental crowns can be used even if your damaged tooth is missing a significant amount of structure above the gum line. Crowns are typically made from a porcelain or ceramic material and are matched to your tooth’s natural color to make sure that they blend in perfectly with your teeth.
The Crowning Process
The entire process of applying a dental crown typically takes two to visits at our Tuscaloosa family dentistry. During your first visit, our dental team will prepare your tooth to receive its new crown, shaping it to fit inside the new covering either by filing it down, or adding a filling material to build it up.
Next our team will take impressions of your teeth. These impressions will be our lab technicians’ models, allowing them to create a dental crown that is specifically designed for your bite and smile.
Lastly, before leaving our Tuscaloosa office, our trusted cosmetic dentist will attach a temporary crown to your tooth to protect it until the permanent crown is ready. During your next visit, your permanent dental crown will be placed with either permanent cement or a resin that hardens when exposed to special light.
Once the dental crown is placed, proper dental hygiene (including daily brushing and flossing) is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums, and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease and periodontal disease. Given proper care, your dental crowns can last several years.
Dental crowns are crafted from today’s highest-quality porcelains and ceramics. They provide strength to teeth, which restores your normal dental function. And they blend in flawlessly, thus enhancing your smile as well.