Dental Crowns
If you’ve got a chipped or cracked tooth that’s causing you pain, or are simply not happy with the look of your tooth due to severe discoloration or staining, then we may have the answer for you. As one of the leading dentists in the state, Dr. David M. Skopp DDS can restore your tooth’s natural appearance or fix any damage with a simple dental crown.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is basically a cap that fits over the existing tooth in order to either repair it or restore it to its original appearance. The crown typically covers the entire visible tooth and is often designed to look exactly like a natural tooth, allowing you to fix the problem without complication.
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, but the following are the most common.
Metal
Ceramic
Resin
Solid porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal
While ceramic crowns look most like a natural tooth, they don’t last as long as those made from metal or porcelain. On the other hand, while metal crowns are the strongest, most people try to avoid their use for anything but molar replacement, as the metallic look can be quite noticeable.
Basically, each type of material has its own advantages and drawbacks, which is why when you come to our office to have a tooth crowned, Dr. Skopp and his team will discuss all of the various options with you to arrive at the best solution for your individual situation and your budget.
When are dental crowns used?
There are a number of different cases where dental crowns are needed, including
To protect weak, damaged or worn down teeth from further decay or damage
Cover and restore discolored or misshapen teeth to a more natural look
To cover and protect a tooth with a large filling, where there isn’t much of the original tooth left
Hold dental bridges in place
To cover dental implants or a tooth that has undergone a root canal
What is the typical procedure for dental crowns?
Although it is sometimes possible to make and install the crown in one day, most dental crown procedures require at least two visits, as its necessary to prepare the tooth and then make an impression so that the crown can be made by a dental laboratory, which can take up to two or three weeks.
When you visit our Palm Beach Gardens office for your first dental crown appointment, our team will first take x-rays of the damaged tooth and Dr. Skopp will give it a full examination to check the root of the tooth and the surrounding bone, just to make sure a root canal isn’t first necessary.
After the exam, Dr. Skopp will then numb your mouth and begin the process of preparing the tooth for the crown—filing down the top and sides of the tooth to make room for the crown to fit over it. The actual amount of the tooth that will be removed depends on the type of crown being used and the shape of the tooth; although in some cases it may actually be necessary to build upon the remaining tooth in order to support the crown if there is a large portion of it missing.
Once the tooth has been prepared, Dr. Skopp will then take an impression of your teeth so that the permanent crown can be made by the dental lab, and then set about fixing you with a temporary crown to protect your teeth until the permanent one can be installed.
When the permanent crown is ready, you will come back to the office for a short appointment, where Dr. Skopp will remove the temporary crown before checking to make sure the new crown fits and is a match for color. Finally, he will then numb the surrounding area and cement the new crown permanently in place.
Your newly crowned tooth should look and feel exactly like a natural tooth and shouldn’t require any special attention or care, although if you have porcelain crowns you may want to avoid biting down on hard things, as this can cause them to crack or chip.
So, if you’re sick of staring at that cracked or discolored tooth, or tired of dealing with the pain arising from it, contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Skopp and see how a dental crown can benefit you.