Dental Crowns – Lakewood, CO
An Effective Solution to Correct Compromised Teeth
Your teeth are constantly working throughout your lifetime. Whether it’s chewing, talking, clenching your jaw, or grinding your pearly whites, it’s natural for your enamel to wear down over time. However, if you add in other factors like biting on hard objects, consuming highly acidic foods and drinks, or playing contact sports, then you might put your pearly whites at risk of being further damaged. Fortunately, if you have decayed or compromised teeth, Dr. Carole Emanuel can renew your smile with dental crowns in Lakewood. Read along or give our office a call if you wish to learn more or want to schedule an appointment!
Why Choose Carole Emanuel, DDS for Dental Crowns?
- Natural-Looking & Durable Restoration Solutions
- Expert Team That Utilizes Advanced Technology
- Professional Dentist With Over Two Decades Of Experience
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a kind of cap that is designed to cover the white part of your tooth above your gumline. Unlike the bones in your body, your teeth are unable to regenerate on their own. This can make them vulnerable to further damage or even infection if left unchecked. For this reason, a dental crown can be implemented to provide the protection and strength your tooth needs for a healthy structure. These caps are also constructed out of porcelain, which reflects light much like your natural pearly whites, improving the appearance of your smile. This restoration treatment can be an exceptional solution for several dental issues, including:
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Severe tooth decay or large fillings
- Teeth that were previously repaired with a root canal
The Dental Crown Process
Traditional dental crowns will typically take about two appointments to complete. You’ll first start with an initial examination with Dr. Carole Emanuel, who will evaluate your oral health and determine the best approach to restore your smile. Once it’s decided that a dental crown is an ideal solution, she’ll begin your treatment by preparing your tooth. This will involve cleaning it, inspecting it, and then removing a small portion of your enamel. We’ll take impressions of your smile and send them to a dental lab for fabrication.
Our team will provide you with a temporary crown as you wait for your permanent one to be constructed. This should take a few weeks to complete. Once it’s fabricated, you’ll come back to our office so we can switch out your provisional one for your final dental crown. We’ll confirm that it fits properly and that you’re satisfied with the result before sending you on your way to enjoy your renewed smile.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
These are one of the most popular restorations in dentistry. Here are several benefits you can expect to enjoy from dental crowns:
- Restores function: You’ll be able to smile, talk, and eat comfortably without worrying about any discomfort or risking further damage to your tooth.
- Versatility: A dental crown can address a wide variety of concerns, such as a cracked or decayed tooth.
- Avoid future issues: These dental caps can help you prevent more costly oral complications, like teeth that are heavily infected or beyond repair.
- Natural-looking solution: Since they’re made of porcelain, your dental crown will seamlessly match the rest of your natural smile.
Dental Crown FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Technically, dental crowns are not permanent. However, they are a long-term solution. Generally speaking, they can protect your teeth anywhere from 10 to 15 years or longer. When your dentist reshapes your tooth for a crown, that procedure is irreversible. Tooth enamel does not grow back after it has been lost, so that tooth will always need a crown for protection going forward. That being said, crowns protect the underlying tooth from additional damage, helping the tooth to survive for much longer than it could have otherwise.
How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
The only way to know for sure whether a dental crown needs to be replaced is to have it examined by your dentist. That being said, there are some warning signs that could indicate that your crown is nearing the end of its lifespan. Here are some of the most notable.
- Pain: If there is decay underneath the crown, the crown needs to be removed so the tooth can be treated.
- Instability: If you feel that your crown is loose, especially when chewing something sticky, contact your dentist.
- Worse Appearance: If your crown is chipped or discolored, this is a valid reason to want to have it replaced.
- Dark Line: With porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, the porcelain layer can chip off and wear away over the years, revealing some of the metal. At this point, it is a good idea to have it replaced.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
It’s impossible for a crown itself to develop cavities, but the tooth underneath it still can. In fact, a crowned tooth has about the same risk of decay as an uncrowned tooth. Poor oral hygiene makes it possible for bacteria and plaque to form around the gumline where the tooth meets the crown. They can then travel underneath the crown and weak havoc on the underlying tooth. You can prevent cavities in crowned teeth the same way you’d prevent cavities in uncrowned teeth. Brush twice, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day!
Are Dental Crowns Covered by Insurance?
Every insurance plan is a little bit different, but most of them consider crowns to be a major procedure, so they are usually covered up to 50% after you’ve paid your deductible and before you’ve exceeded your annual maximum. Dental insurance typically only covers dental crowns if they are necessary for your oral health. For instance, if you are getting a dental crown to repair a tooth with decay or damage, it should receive partial coverage. If you are getting a crown for cosmetic reasons, it may not be covered.