Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a custom-made, tooth-shaped cap that completely covers a damaged tooth, restoring its shape, size and strength. Dental crowns are used to restore tooth damage caused by decay, injury, bite problems or natural wear.
When is a Dental Crown Needed?
- To protect a weak tooth from breaking, or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
- To correct the shape or color of a tooth.
- To restore a tooth that is already broken.
- To support a tooth with a filling that is too large for the tooth to support.
- To hold a dental bridge in place.
- To top the metal post used in a dental implant.
We fabricate strong, natural-looking dental crowns that blend perfectly with the surrounding teeth in shape and color.
What are the Different Types of Dental Crowns?
Permanent dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials.
- Metal Crown— Metal crowns include gold, palladium or other base metals. Metal dental crowns withstand biting and chewing well and are long-lasting. They will never chip or break. The metallic color is the main drawback and they are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
- All-Ceramic or Porcelain Crown— An all-ceramic crown or a porcelain crown provides the best color match to your other teeth, and is a good choice for people with metal allergies. The newest ceramic technology allows us to fabricate natural looking crowns that are virtually as strong as metal.
- Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crown— Next to a porcelain crown, a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown looks most like your natural teeth. As the gum line recedes, the underlying metal might show. Also, this type of porcelain crown causes more wear to opposing teeth.
How is the Tooth Prepared for a Dental Crown?
Preparing a tooth for a dental crown typically requires two visits to our Seattle area office.
During the first visit to our Seattle, Washington area office, we will assess the damaged tooth, evaluating the roots of the affected tooth and the surrounding bone. If the root is infected or injured, it might be necessary to perform a root canal.
Next, we will numb your tooth and gum tissue. The tooth receiving the dental crown is filed down, to make room for the crown. If part of the tooth is missing, Dr. Hrankowski will use filling material to ‘build up’ the tooth to support the dental crown.
The dentist will take impressions of the area, which will be sent to a dental lab where the dental crown is made. The dentist will affix a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth while waiting for permanent dental crown to be manufactured.
During the second visit, Dr. Hrankowski will remove the temporary crown and check the color and fit of the permanent crown. Once the fit is just right, he will permanently secure the new dental crown in place.
If you have damaged teeth and want to learn more about dental crowns or to see if a porcelain crown will work for your situation, contact Edmonds Woodway Dental Care in the Seattle – Everett Washington area today or today or fill out the form on the right of this page for a complimentary dental crown consultation.
