Dental Crowns – Kittanning, PA

What is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are advanced restorations that fit over the top of a damaged or decayed tooth in most cases. This protects remaining dental structures and fully restores the healthy form and function of your smile. Once in place, a dental crown will blend seamlessly into the natural smile line.

What are Dental Crowns Made From?

We use precious metal, porcelain pressed (or fused) to metal, or all-porcelain crowns. To maintain a fully white smile, we recommend all-ceramic crowns. Our precise color-matching system allows us to find the right shade of porcelain to blend with your natural tooth color. Porcelain crowns are also extremely durable and long-lasting, and these benefits make them popular with dentists as well as patients.

When Will I Need a Dental Crown?

We use dental crowns in a variety of situations to replace lost tooth structures, including:

• To repair damaged or decayed teeth
• To replace a broken or lost filling
• To protect root canal treated teeth
• To connect with a dental implant to replace one lost tooth
• Attached to surrounding healthy tooth structures to replace one or more teeth
• All-ceramic crowns can even be used for purely cosmetic purposes correcting irregularities in shape, size, color, and spacing

How are Dental Crowns Placed?

Typically, we can design, fit, and place your crowns in just a couple of short appointments. During the initial visit, we will prepare your smile by removing any damaged tooth structures and a small amount of enamel around the tooth to allow the crown to fit into your smile without sticking out or sitting too close to surrounding teeth. Once teeth are prepared, we capture impressions of your smile and place a temporary dental crown. Once we receive the final crown from our lab, you’ll return to exchange your temporary for a flawless, custom dental crown, leaving you with a healthy, flawless smile.

How do I Care for My Dental Crown?

Once a crown is placed, you can care for it as you do your natural teeth. Conscientious brushing two minutes at a time, twice a day, and daily flossing will protect the base of your crown from bacterial growth. Be sure to see us at least two times each year for professional cleanings and a preventive exam, too. Even with proper care, dental crowns need to be replaced periodically to ensure it remains whole and functional.

Dental Crown FAQs

Thanks to the high-quality dental crowns offered at Voller Dentistry, you can restore the health and function of your damaged teeth while protecting them from further harm. When getting a dental crown for the first time, it’s only natural to have a few questions. Our team will take the time to walk you through the process during your initial consultation, and they’ll thoroughly address any concerns you might have. Below, we’ve provided a few brief but detailed answers to some of the most common questions we’ve received about crowns.

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How Long Will the Procedure Take?

After your initial consultation, it normally takes two appointments to get a dental crown. During the first visit, a small amount of enamel will be removed from your tooth, and an impression of your mouth will be created. The crown will be made in a dental lab using the impression as a guide. We’ll place a temporary crown to protect your tooth during this time.

Once the final crown has been completed and sent back to our office (which can take a couple of weeks), we’ll schedule a second appointment. During this visit, the crown will be bonded to your tooth after we’ve made any necessary adjustments to ensure that it fits properly and looks as natural as possible.

Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?

When preparing a tooth for a dental crown, we’ll numb the area first so that you don’t feel any discomfort. Once the numbness wears off, the tooth in question may feel sensitive for a few days. You can take over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen to keep your discomfort under control.

As for the actual placement of the crown, your tooth may or may not be numbed depending on your needs and preferences. You might also experience some sensitivity afterward, but it won’t be to the same extent as what you experienced after your first appointment.

How Long Will My Crown Last?

The lifespan of your dental crown can vary based on the material it’s made of and the kind of care you give it. A normal crown will have to be replaced after 10 years, but it’s not uncommon for some of them to stay in the mouth much longer than that. You can help your crown last as long as possible by:

• Practicing good oral hygiene
• Visiting Voller Dentistry every six months for a checkup and cleaning
• Avoiding sticky or hard foods
• Dropping bad habits like chewing your fingernails

What Do I Do If My Crown Falls Off?

Over time, your crown might lose its bond with your tooth and fall off. If this happens, stay calm and call our office to schedule an appointment. Do not try to bond the crown back in place by yourself; instead, keep it somewhere safe so that you can bring it with you when it’s time for your appointment. When eating, be careful not to chew with the affected tooth.