Sciota, Pennsylvania
Questions about Crowns
Dentists often recommend dental crowns to save badly damaged or decayed teeth from extraction. A crown fits over the tooth like a cap, so it covers the entire tooth down to the gum line. A tooth that is cracked, broken or that has a large old filling that falls out may need a crown to be saved and restored. At Quiet Valley Dental, we offer all-porcelain crowns that look and function like real teeth. If you’ve been told that you need a dental crown, it’s important to understand the procedure and what to expect beforehand.
A crown is a custom-made cap that fits over a damaged tooth. The dentist bonds the crown so that it is secure and permanent, and once in place, the crown looks natural. Its shiny finish, thickness, color, and specific markings will blend with your surrounding teeth. No one except a dentist would be able to distinguish your crowned tooth from any other healthy tooth in your mouth.
The dentist may recommend a crown if you have a tooth that is cracked or badly damaged, or decayed. Other times crowns are recommended if a patient has an old silver filling that falls out or causes the tooth to break. This is common, and unfortunately, there usually isn’t enough of the tooth left to hold a composite filling. The dentist will recommend an all-porcelain crown instead. Crowns are also made to attach to dental implants when replacing missing teeth and following a root canal.
Caring for a newly crowned tooth is the same as caring for your other teeth. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss before bed each night. You should also keep up with your twice-yearly dental cleanings and exams, where we monitor any changes in your oral health and inspect restorations to ensure they remain intact.
Crowns are quite strong and durable and should last about a decade, although we’ve seen crowns last much longer with good care and maintenance. There are a few things that you can do to extend the life of your crown. Practice good oral hygiene daily, see the dentist twice a year, and avoid using your teeth to bite on hard objects like fingernails, pens, and pencils, as this could break or damage the porcelain or your other natural teeth. And, if you have bruxism, we recommend requesting a custom nightguard from the dentist to protect your teeth and restorations from damage.
There are several factors that go into the cost of a dental crown, including:
- Additional treatments needed to prepare the tooth for the crown
- How many crowns you need
- The size of the tooth getting crowned
- The complexity of the procedure
- Materials used to fabricate the crown
We can provide a pre-treatment estimate during your consultation so that you are aware of the financial commitment for your treatment.
At Quiet Valley Dental, we think that crowns are worth the cost because they save your teeth from extraction and provide many years of functionality. We recommend restorative treatments to save your natural teeth. But this is a decision that each patient must decide themselves.
A root canal treatment removes the tooth’s pulp or the blood supply and nerves. This makes the tooth dry and brittle and subject to damage if not properly protected. Therefore, a dental crown should always be the final step following a root canal treatment. The crown protects the tooth after the pulp is removed.
Usually, a dental crown will not need replacing unless it is very old and starts leaking, pops off, or the porcelain is cracked or damaged.
Your crown will be made to look just like a real tooth. The porcelain is shaded to match the enamel of your surrounding teeth. And the crown is even made with markings and indentions. Most patients are amazed at the shiny, lighting-reflecting quality of an all-porcelain crown because it looks like real tooth enamel.
All-Porcelain Dental Crowns in Sciota, Pennsylvania
If you are interested in learning more about all-porcelain dental crowns or finding out if a dental crown is the right choice for you, contact Quiet Valley Dental at (570) 992-7040 and schedule a consultation.
