A dental crown is a cap that protects teeth from damage and decay. Crowns can also secure dental bridges in place or cover single dental implants. At Hebron Family Dental, we offer dental crown treatment in Carrollton, TX.
We recommend dental crowns as a restorative dentistry treatment to renew the function of one or more teeth. Tooth crowns can prevent further tooth damage, create a more even bite, and help preserve infected teeth.
What Can Dental Crowns Treat?
When you lose a permanent tooth, you need a lasting restoration to restore its full function. A single dental implant can use a tooth-colored crown to replace a missing tooth. Additionally, dental crowns can cover the natural teeth on either side of the tooth gap to secure a dental bridge.
Tooth crowns have many other uses in dentistry. Dental crowns can:
- Cover cracked, worn, and broken teeth: Crowns protect damaged teeth to prevent further injuries. Dental crowns add structure to these teeth and prevent the need for tooth extractions.
- Cap off single dental implants: An implant replaces one or more missing teeth. We use a crown to cap off a single implant to replace a missing tooth. Our office color matches this crown to the shade of the remaining teeth.
- Cover weakened teeth after a root canal: A root canal removes infected pulp from within a tooth. Many patients with teeth weakened by infection need extra support from a crown.
- Secure traditional dental bridges: A traditional bridge uses support from crown-capped natural teeth on either side of a missing tooth gap.
- Cover a large filling: A large filling increases the risk of your tooth breaking. Crowns can keep large fillings intact.
- Improve the position of slightly crooked teeth: If you have slightly crooked teeth but do not need braces, we may recommend a crown. We can reshape your tooth and place a crown for a straighter look.
Types of Dental Crowns
There are also several different types of dental crowns:
- Gold: This is the traditional crown option. While metal crowns are durable, they do not look natural. Metal crowns can help strengthen molars but are still visible when your mouth is open or you are talking.
- Porcelain Fused to Metal: This is a crown with metal on the inside of the restoration and porcelain on the outside. The downside to these crowns is that the metal beneath the porcelain can show if you experience gum recession.
- Zirconia: A Zirconia crown uses ceramic materials for a long-lasting restoration. While these crowns are more durable than PFM crowns, they are more expensive.
- Porcelain: These crowns use tooth-colored porcelain to improve the look and strength of teeth. Because porcelain is translucent, it matches the look of natural teeth.
- Ceramic: This is a common material dentists use for same-day dental crowns. While ceramic can look natural, it may not last as long as other crowns.
Our office prefers tooth-colored materials like porcelain for dental crowns. These crowns blend in with the shade of other teeth and provide the strength of a natural tooth.
Dental Crown Treatment in Carrollton, TX
Before we place a dental crown, we will take X-rays to determine which teeth need treatment. Our dentists will also consider your dental problems, budget, and goals.
To begin crown treatment, we will numb your treated tooth for your comfort. Then, we will reshape the tooth to ensure the crown adheres properly. We will also remove any decayed portion of your tooth enamel.
Then, we take dental impressions of the tooth and color-match your tooth or teeth to the shade of your natural teeth. We send our specifications to a dental lab. There, technicians will create your crown. In the meantime, we will attach a temporary crown to your tooth.
Once the permanent crown is ready, you will return to our office. We will remove the temporary crown.
Then, we will ensure your final crown is the correct shape, size, color, and fit. We will cement the crown in place. Finally, we polish your new dental crown for a natural sheen.
Caring for Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are simple to care for; you can brush and floss them like your natural teeth. Floss before brushing, ensuring that you thread the floss between each tooth by the gum line. Then, when brushing, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to prevent crown damage.
Please continue to visit for routine exams and cleanings twice a year. During your exam, we will ensure that your crowns fit properly and that there are no changes in fit. We will also gently and thoroughly clean your crowns and natural teeth during this cleaning.
Dental Crown FAQs
Learn more about dental crown treatment in our Carrollton, TX office with answers to these common questions:
What are inlays and onlays?
Also known as partial crowns, inlays and onlays are separate pieces that bond to the top of a damaged tooth. An inlay covers the tooth’s chewing surface, between its sides or cusps.
Onlays cover the entire top of the tooth, including the tooth cusps. Like porcelain or ceramic crowns, inlays and onlays use tooth-colored materials.
We recommend inlays and onlays for patients with damage to the top of a tooth. A crown fully covers a tooth, while treatments like teeth bonding can add to larger chips or cracks. Inlays and onlays are best for smaller areas of tooth damage.
Do I need a dental crown after a root canal?
In most cases, we recommend receiving a crown after root canal treatment. An infection can weaken a tooth. After a root canal, a crown can add more structure to a worn tooth and protect it from further infection.
Additionally, a crown is beneficial if you have a large dental filling. A large filling can increase the chance of your tooth cracking or breaking, and crowns help keep the tooth together and protected.
How much do dental crowns cost?
The cost of your dental crowns will depend on several factors:
- The type of dental crown
- Number of dental crowns
- Dental insurance coverage
We will review your oral health to determine how many crowns you need. Our office also accepts CareCredit and Alphaeon, which can help fit restorative treatment within your budget.
Is a tooth extraction cheaper than a crown?
Removing a single tooth is usually cheaper than receiving a dental crown. However, we often recommend a crown over tooth removal if we can save your tooth. After removing a damaged or infected tooth, we will need to replace it with a dental implant, which adds to your treatment cost.
Can a tooth get infected under a crown?
Yes. If you damage a crown or it comes loose, bacteria and food debris can affect the underlying tooth. Additionally, if you do not floss and brush properly, you can experience problems like gum recession.
Receding gums can expose your tooth to harmful bacteria. Contact our office as soon as you notice a change in the fit of your tooth crown.
Is a dental crown painful?
No. Getting a dental crown is not painful. We will numb your tooth before we prepare it for the crown.
However, you may feel sore several days after your treatment. We will provide pain medication and recommend using an ice pack to reduce swelling. Experiencing swelling after restorative dental treatment is normal.
Contact Our Carrollton Dental Office
Get a long-lasting dental crown in our Carrollton, TX office. Call Hebron Family Dental at 972-236-5871 or schedule a dental appointment on our website.
Let us know if you have any questions about dental crowns. We’re here to help you find the best restoration for your damaged or injured tooth.