A crown is a “cap” that covers your damaged, discolored, or misshapen tooth. At our dental practice, the crown is customized to fit comfortably over your natural tooth while matching the color of the rest of your teeth.
The crown restores the size, shape, and function of your teeth and improves the aesthetics of your smile. If you are looking for the best dental crowns near South San Francisco, contact us today and set an appointment.
A crown can effectively address several cosmetic issues, including:
Although many types of materials including composite resin and metal alloys are used to make crowns, the most natural and long-lasting results are offered by porcelain and ceramic crowns. These are biocompatible, non-toxic materials that are durable and safe, while they can be customized to precisely match the color of the adjacent natural teeth.
At James Fitzgerald Dental, our cosmetic dental surgeon ensures your crown fits comfortably and looks natural. Before choosing the type of crown, he evaluates many aspects such as:
Every treatment at our Brisbane practice begins with a detailed assessment of your dental, oral, and overall health. Dr. Fitzgerald may order images if required to get a complete picture of your oral health. He may also perform additional procedures such as teeth cleaning, root canal, or others to ensure optimal oral health before placing the crown.
Typically, two visits to our office are needed for the placement of the crown. In the first visit, the dental surgeon prepares the tooth or teeth that will receive the crown. The tooth that requires restoration is then filed gently to ensure the crown fits perfectly. The extent of filing depends on the type of crown chosen. The surgeon may also use a filling material to build up the structure of the tooth if too much of the tissue is lost due to decay or injury.
After the reshaping of the tooth, the dentist takes an impression of the tooth using putty or a paste or by digitally scanning the damaged tooth. A precise impression taken at our office enables us to craft a crown that fits perfectly. This procedure may take up to two weeks and during this time you will be given a temporary crown. Dr. Fitzgerald provides detailed guidelines to ensure proper care of the temporary crown, like avoiding eating sticky foods and chewing gum.
During the second visit, the dental surgeon removes the temporary crown and checks the color and fit of the permanent crown before placing it. A local anesthetic may be used to enhance your comfort while the new crown is cemented in place.
Like natural teeth, crowns can also break and require appropriate care and maintenance. As your natural teeth are not removed for crown placement, it is important to follow a regular oral care routine to prevent tooth decay or cavities of the underlying tooth.
At our practice, we give top priority to preventive dental care and our dental experts provide instructions on taking care of your teeth after the crown placement. This includes brushing twice a day and flossing to clean between the teeth, avoiding hard foods, or very cold foods including ice. Scheduling regular appointments at James Fitzgerald Dental is the best way to get regular and thorough dental health check-ups and prevent serious issues such as decay or infections.
If you are looking to get a dental crown in San Francisco, book an appointment today to find out more about dental crowns.
I’ve seen crowns last for 50 years! The care of the crown and tooth that it is protecting is all important. Some people think that because the tooth has a crown that it now has become a super tooth. It still needs to be brushed and flossed. Decay can occur on the non-crowned portion of the tooth. Also, gum problems can still be a problem that have to be guarded against with regular cleanings. These factors are actually not problems with a crown but problems with the tooth itself which can result in the need for a new crown or the loss of a tooth.
Over the years the technology of dentistry has evolved a great deal. From metal and gold to various formulations of porcelain to the preferred material now of Zirconia. Zirconia has the advantages of great strength and fracture resistance with less abrasion to the opposing teeth.
We always strive to make the procedures in the office as comfortable as possible. Effective, comfortable anesthesia is a top priority for us and you!
A Crown is almost always for a single tooth. Occasionally two teeth are splinted together for various reasons. This would be discussed as part of a treatment plan if deemed necessary.
These two terms are synonymous. They both mean to cover the tooth with a protective restoration that strengthen the tooth from further fracturing or breakdown.
