Sure – you’ve heard of dental crowns in State College, but what does this restorative procedure actually consist of? While the terminology itself may call to mind visions of teeth with scepters, robes, and tiaras, this is actually a great way to address dentitions that have become compromised for several reasons. In this post, Dr. Chris Devlin explains how you can give your teeth the royal treatment when you work with his experienced and friendly team of experts.
What Is A Dental Crown?
As your trusted dentist in State College, Dr. Devlin likes to define what this treatment is before diving into how it can benefit your oral health. He explains that dental crowns are tooth-shaped “caps,” that sit atop your natural dentitions, after your original teeth have been prepared. They are permanent replacements that can last for decades if you care for them properly.
What Are Dental Crowns Used For?
Dental crowns can be used to address many oral health conditions and circumstances, including:
- Protecting a weak tooth from breaking
- Preventing tooth decay from spreading on an already compromised tooth
- Holding a broken tooth together
- Repairing a tooth that has been worn down significantly
- Supporting a tooth with a large filling
- Correcting discolored dentitions
- Upgrading misshapen teeth and making cosmetic modifications
- Covering a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy
- Covering a dental implant
- Protecting children from tooth decay
- Treating congenital oral health conditions that affect the enamel of the teeth
What Is The Process For A Dental Crown?
Dr. Devlin expands on the process of receiving a dental crown in the steps below:
- Step One – At your first visit, he’ll perform a thorough exam and take X-rays to check on the roots and bones around the area. Then, Dr. Devlin numb the area and shape your natural tooth to prepare it. At that point, we will take impressions and send them to a lab that will create your custom, porcelain crown. Lastly, we will place a temporary crown that you can use until the permanent one is completed.
- Step Two – Once the lab fabricates your individualized crown, you’ll come back for a second visit – it usually takes a couple of weeks for the permanent restoration to be finalized. When you come back to see us again, we’ll remove the temporary crown and cement the permanent crown in place. At that point, you’ll be done, so you can start showing off your smile again.
Can I Replace More Than One Tooth With A Dental Crown?
We can use multiple crowns to replace several individual teeth, or using a crown-and-bridge combination we can even replace several missing teeth in a row. We’ll use the healthy teeth as an “anchor,” and place crowns on these and then add “pontics,” or artificial dentitions, to fill in the gaps in your smile.
Now that you know how you can give your teeth the royal treatment they deserve, schedule an appointment with Dr. Chris Devlin today!