Dental Crowns Carmichael, CA

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Strengthening and Shaping Teeth

In many cases of tooth damage, dental crowns are used for restoration. A crown is a tooth-colored cap which a dentist cements over the existing damaged tooth. It covers the entire external portion of the tooth above the gumline and stays firmly in place thanks to the cementing. Our team of dental professionals can utilize crowns to restore your teeth, making them strong, functional and beautiful once again.

Dental crowns have more uses than only protecting weakened or damaged teeth. They are also used for cosmetic dentistry. A chipped front tooth that impairs a lovely smile may be easily and quickly covered with a crown. Some people have one or more teeth that are smaller than their other teeth or there may be a natural tooth that is unattractively shaped. A crown can quickly make that smile uniform and attractive.

Restore Your Teeth with Crowns

When a Dental Crown Is Needed

Your dentist will determine whether a crown is the best solution for you after performing a thorough exam. Getting a dental crown may be advised when there is:

Extensive tooth decay
Broken tooth
Cracked tooth
Severely worn-down tooth
Tooth has received root canal therapy
Dental implant needs to be restored
Badly stained teeth can’t be whitened
Bridge needs to be placed

Weakened Teeth

A procedure like a large filling may remove so much natural tooth material that the tooth becomes weak. It could easily crack or fracture. A crown can make that tooth capable of lasting the rest of a person’s life. And root canal therapy, while saving a tooth, will eventually make a tooth brittle. A crown is needed to preserve this tooth, too. Once the crown is placed, this tooth is capable of lasting for decades.
Cosmetic Uses

Placing crowns over unattractive, weakened, severely stained or broken teeth can quickly convert a smile a person wishes to hide to one they love to show off. Even a severely damaged smile can go through a quick makeover with dental crowns.
Bridges and Implants

Two dental crowns are also used as part of a dental bridge. On either side of one or two new, artificial teeth, two crowns serve as anchors. They cover the teeth on either side of the gap and permanently support the artificial replacement tooth or teeth. When a porcelain tooth is placed as the final step in a dental implant procedure, that is also referred to as a dental crown.

When you receive a crown, it needs very simple care. Just brush your crown twice per day and floss daily along with the rest of your teeth. Flossing under a bridge and around a crown is important to keep the tooth underneath healthy. Examinations and cleanings every six months also help extend the life of your crown.

The Different Types of Crowns

Dental crowns can be made of different materials. The metal ones are usually made of alloy which can have a high concentration of gold or platinum or be made from a base metal like cobalt-chromium. When a child receives a crown on a baby tooth, that crown is usually made from medical-grade stainless steel to spare the family the cost of a crown on a tooth that will soon be lost. White crowns can be used, however, if a metal one might cause the child embarrassment.

All-porcelain and all-ceramic crowns look the most natural. These materials can be colored to match the adjacent teeth. The ceramic or porcelain crown will be shaped to fit into the smile perfectly. These crowns are also very strong.

The third main option is the porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. These do not have the most natural appearance but they are durable and have a low likelihood of fracturing. They are most suitable for non-visible teeth.

Zirconia crowns have the highest strength. These or porcelain crowns made with the current technology and newest porcelain material are long-lasting solutions and are the choice of many patients. Zirconia is not the best material for a visible tooth because it does not resemble natural tooth material quite as much.

Different materials may be chosen for a crown depending on whether it will protect a damaged tooth or if it is being used for cosmetic dentistry. The amount of stress that tooth will experience should also be taken into account. A tooth that is visible in the front does not experience as much stress as a tooth in the back that is subjected to heavy chewing.

Zirconia crowns are often used to crown molars. The material used for a crown placed over a visible tooth doesn’t need to be quite as strong. A porcelain or ceramic crown is a better choice for a visible tooth because it more closely resembles natural tooth tissue. It has a greater luster and translucence, just like natural teeth.

Our dentist will discuss the best type of crown for your situation and the advantages of each choice. Together, you can come to a determination of your best option.

Schedule a Dental Crown Consultation

The Dental Crown Restoration Process

Before placing your crown, any decay in the tooth must be treated. Then your tooth will be prepared for a crown. Natural teeth must be shaped to accept a crown by removing some of the enamel. This reduces the size of a tooth so a crown can fit perfectly over it.

Then our dentist will take an impression of the shaped tooth, your gum and the surrounding natural teeth. This enables a crown to be created especially for you in a dental laboratory. A lab technician will design it to match your bite, the shape of your jaw and the color and shape of your natural teeth.

As soon as this impression has been taken, a temporary crown will be placed over the shaped tooth to protect it. When the permanent crown is ready, our dentist will remove the temporary crown and fit the permanent crown in place. She wants to be sure that it fits perfectly, matches your natural teeth and that your bite is correct. This crown will then be permanently cemented into place.

Your newly crowned tooth could be sensitive for a while but this sensitivity should soon fade. Be sure to let us know if it remains sensitive for more than a week.

At Carmichael Smiles, we provide general, cosmetic, restorative and emergency dentistry services for the residents of Folsom, Granite Bay and Carmichael. Our focus is on quality care for every member of your family. Our dental care is also provided in a personal, warm atmosphere that you will not find in large dental chains.

We want to get to know you, your health and medical history. Our intention is to provide dental care that preserves the health of every tooth in your smile. We do this through preventative services like cleanings and examinations, restorative treatments like fillings, crowns and bridges, and cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of your smile. We also provide dentures and Invisalign correction of a poorly aligned smile.

When you are searching in Carmichael, CA, for “dental crowns near me,” you can do no better than to consult with Dr. Sandhu at Carmichael Smiles. Dr. Sandhu and her entire team are dedicated to helping every patient, young and old, maintain excellent dental health in a reassuring, friendly and relaxed environment.

We also welcome those patients whose goal is to achieve a more beautiful smile. For superior quality care, consult with Gurkamal Sandhu, D.D.S., of Carmichael, CA. Call us to schedule an appointment. We have appointments available Monday through Thursday. Emergency dental care is also available.