Do you have extensive tooth damage? Are you looking for a permanently white smile? Dental crowns are a cosmetic option we use to protect weak, worn, and damaged teeth. They can cover an implant, stabilize a tooth after a filling or root canal, and support a dental bridge.
Dental crowns serve as a “cap” that covers the visible portion of the tooth. This procedure aims to restore a tooth’s size, shape, color and function. For this reason, a dental crown serves many cosmetic and restorative purposes.
Mark Sowell, DDS, MAGD, AACD, and Sara Chen, DMD, MS, provide dental crowns in Plano, TX. We will work to address all your unique dental care and cosmetic needs. Visit our office for a complimentary consultation to explore the benefits that high-quality dental crowns have to offer.
Dental Crowns in Plano, TX: Our In-office Dental Lab
To streamline our processes and offer the best care possible, we work closely with master ceramist James Chung. We are one of the few dental practices in Texas with an in-office, full-service ceramic laboratory. Our team can create beautifully crafted ceramic porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers faster and more personalized than ever before.
Unlike other dentists who outsource their ceramics, our practice can fabricate dental crowns with less downtime and more precision. Same-day dentistry improves patient satisfaction and yields long-lasting and natural-looking results.
As full-service dentists in Plano, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen work closely with Mr. Chung to create restorations that meet each patient’s cosmetic and restorative needs. We collaborate during all phases of the creation process. We will ensure your expectations and goals are met with the best results possible.
What Can A Dental Crown Address?
We may recommend a dental crown to address the following dental concerns.
Correcting Cosmetic Flaws
Dental crowns are ideal because they have both cosmetic and restorative purposes. Discolored teeth is one of the most common issues we see. Typically, professional teeth whitening is the solution to correct tooth discoloration.
However, not all stains respond to the traditional whitening methods. Staining brought on by medication and teeth discolored by trauma require another solution.
Misshapen or disfigured teeth are also cosmetic issues in your smile. And these can have functional repercussions as well. Depending on where they are in your mouth, they can cause problems with your ability to speak or chew your food properly.
Dental crowns completely cover the natural tooth to hide cosmetic problems with your teeth. We custom-make them to match the shape of your other teeth so they work properly as well.
Strengthening Your Natural Teeth
One of the most common uses for a dental crown is to protect a tooth after a root canal. A root canal procedure cleans out all the infected pulp inside your tooth. We refill it with a biocompatible material and seal it off to prevent further infection.
But the tooth isn’t always stable afterward. We want to ensure that you get back the complete function of your tooth. A dental crown provides that extra strength and helps to seal the tooth further from bacteria and infection.
With a traditional dental bridge, your natural teeth anchor it on either side. They take on a lot of stress from supporting the bridge. Anchor teeth wear down faster than normal teeth and are more prone to tooth decay and damage.
We recommend using dental crowns to fortify these teeth. Instead of the tooth taking on all the stress of the bridge, the dental crowns will instead.
Repairing Decayed or Damaged Teeth
At our office, we practice conservative dentistry to preserve your natural tooth as much as possible. When you lose your tooth root, it has many negative effects on your oral health. For example, the jawbone begins to deteriorate.
A dental crown is one of the best ways to preserve that tooth. Tooth decay eats through large portions of your tooth, but a dental crown can hold it together and keep the tooth root intact.
Breaking off a portion of your tooth is both painful and unsightly. Dental nerves cause pain when air and other things come in contact with it. Sharp edges from the broken tooth can harm the soft tissues in your mouth.
Dental crowns rebuild teeth and protect the nerves so that it isn’t painful to bite into foods. You get back the full function of the tooth and don’t have to worry about injuring it further.
Completing a Dental Implant
Dental crowns finish a dental implant when replacing a single tooth. They look and feel like real teeth. We make each crown separately to match your other teeth in size, shape, and color. One crown is placed on top of one dental implant to make it look like a natural tooth.
Dental crowns are a long-term solution because they fit your natural tooth. Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen can help you decide if a dental crown is the best option for your smile. A crown can be a strong and natural-looking fix for many dental issues with the right dental care.
What Is The Process Of Getting A Dental Crown?
You can receive your custom crown in 2-3 visits to our Plano, TX dental office. Before treatment, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen can remove old crowns, provide root canal treatment, or place fillings. We do this to make sure that the tooth structure is free of infection and any other problems. In many cases, receiving a dental crown will include the following steps:
- First we remove tooth decay, or old dental restorations, and clean the tooth.
- For teeth that are missing an extensive amount of tooth structure, we need to prepare the tooth with a dental filling.
- Next, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen will reshape the affected tooth. Reshaping it will give the new crown enough space to permanently attach to.
- Then we will take digital images and impressions so we can fabricate your custom dental crown. Dr. Sowell, Dr. Chen, and Mr. Chung work together to ensure that your new crown will fit precisely in your mouth.
- Our team will fabricate your custom crown in the office at our laboratory. We may place a temporary crown while you wait for the final crown.
- Finally, Dr. Sowell or Dr. Chen will cement and secure your dental crown to your tooth when it’s ready. We will make any adjustments before we cement it in place.
Practice excellent oral health by brushing and flossing your teeth every day to maintain your crown and teeth. Dr. Sowell, Dr. Chen, and our team will discuss the best ways to care for your new smile after you get your dental crown.
Types of Dental Crowns
Though we recommend porcelain or ceramic dental crowns, there are different types to choose from. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
- Full Porcelain: Porcelain is the best material for your body because it doesn’t have any metal. It’s especially good for teeth at the front of your mouth because it looks like natural tooth enamel. Porcelain is durable and can withstand the daily use of your teeth.
- Full Metal: There are different kinds of metal alloys that crowns can use. A base metal crown is the cheapest, but it can bother the soft tissues in your mouth. A gold crown costs more, but it’s better for your body. Metal crowns are extremely strong and work best for your back teeth or molars. The dentist also doesn’t need to remove too much tooth structure for metal crowns, but they stand out.
- Porcelain With Metal: This type of crown combines porcelain and metal. It looks like real porcelain but is stronger because of the metal inside. However, the dentist will need to remove more of your tooth for this restoration because it has multiple layers.
Dental Crown FAQs
How long do dental crowns last?
With proper care, oral hygiene practices, and routine visits to the dentist, dental crowns can last many years. You should care for your crown just like your natural teeth. While a crown is impervious to dental decay, the outer edges of a crowned tooth can still develop decay. Metal crowns are more susceptible to this issue.
Is it painful to have a crown put on your tooth?
No. The process of placing a dental crown is not painful. We will alleviate your pain during the procedure with local anesthesia. You will likely not feel pain afterward and will feel much-needed relief. Your tooth may be a little sensitive while it adjusts to the new restoration.
What can you eat with a permanent crown?
We do not recommend eating very hard foods or very chewy food for a couple of days after getting a crown. This will allow your crown to settle and remain in place immediately after the procedure. After a couple of days, you can return to your normal diet without restrictions.
Can I get a cavity with a dental crown?
Even though the crown can’t get a cavity, the tooth underneath it can. If the dentist doesn’t place the crown correctly, there may be room for food and bacteria to get underneath it. It’s important to keep up with brushing and flossing at home and see your dentist regularly. We will check any crowns that were previously placed to make sure they fit properly on the tooth.
How do I clean a crown?
You can take care of your crown the same way you would your natural teeth. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Also, use a toothpaste that’s not too abrasive, otherwise it can damage the surface of your crown.
You can use Waterpiks to clean around a dental crown, but use them gently. Strong Waterpiks can damage the cement over time, so it’s better to stick to traditional floss.
Am I a good candidate for a dental crown?
Many patients are eligible for a dental crown. We’ll do a thorough exam of the tooth to decide if we can save it with a dental crown. Crowns can repair teeth with extreme decay or damage, but we may need to extract the tooth. Fortunately, extractions are a last resort, so we’ll only take this course of action if there’s no way to save your natural tooth.
Schedule a Dental Exam in Plano, TX
As the leading cosmetic dentists in Plano, TX, Dr. Sowell and Dr. Chen understand what it takes to build a healthy smile. They work with patients on an individual basis to develop and implement personalized treatment plans that are right for them.
Visit our Plano dental office to explore all your options and for the gentle dental care you need. To schedule an appointment, call (972) 382-6855 or request an appointment online.