Do you have a problem tooth that has suffered significant structural damage? This may include a tooth with a fracture or crack, or a tooth that has lost a great deal of enamel to decay. In many cases, a tooth that may seem “beyond repair” can easily be restored with a dental crown.

Crowns are also an excellent cosmetic solution for teeth that have intrinsic stains that don’t respond to whitening, or have chips, cracks, or an unusual shape. With a beautiful, lifelike dental crown, Silver Spring Smiles can make your problem tooth look beautiful and healthy, while giving you an excellent replacement for all your dental needs.

What Is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that cover and protect a tooth. They fully encircle a damaged tooth, so no more damage can be inflicted. When permanently attached to a tooth, a dental crown will look and feel much like your natural tooth and can last for many years. Crowns can be made of metal, porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), or zirconia. When you meet with Dr. Dufera, he will explain the benefits of the different fabrication materials and suggest the type of crown best suited to your needs.

Who Might Need a Crown?

Patients of all ages can enjoy the benefits of restorative and cosmetic tooth crowning. Crowns are often used to restore an infected tooth that requires root canal therapy, but there are many applications. If a tooth has broken above the gum line, a crown can be an attractive and useful solution. Ultimately, crowns can be made for any tooth that is healthy enough to support a restoration.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

The process for getting a crown takes two appointments. At the first visit, Dr. Dufera will examine your tooth and take x-rays to make sure the tooth can support a crown. If the damage has extended into the pulp chamber of the tooth, you may need endodontic therapy in addition to a crown.

Before the tooth can hold a crown, it must be treated—a process which resurfaces and removes some of the enamel above the gum line. This makes room in your smile for the crown and ensures it will fit snugly around your tooth. After the tooth is resurfaced, we will take a dental impression, which will guide the fabrication of your crown at an off-site laboratory.

Before you leave the first appointment, a temporary crown is attached to the tooth, which you will wear until your permanent crown is ready. The fabrication process usually takes a couple of weeks. During this time, you should handle your temporary crown with care, and avoid hard or crunchy foods that may dislodge it. If the temporary crown comes loose, call our office immediately, and we will reattach it for you.

When your permanent crown is ready, we will call you to make a second appointment. During this visit, we will remove the temporary crown and permanently attach your customized crown. Most crowns have a minimum lifespan of at least five-to-eight years, but crowns have been known to last much longer with proper care and careful usage.

Call Silver Spring Smiles to Learn More About Dental Crowns

There’s no need to suffer with a broken molar or a badly damaged tooth! Dental crowns can restore your problem tooth and provide a gorgeous replacement. Call our office at 301-588-5400 to learn more about dental crowns, Silver Spring, MD.