Dental Crowns – Plano, TX
Flawlessly Restoring Worn or Damaged Teeth
Do you have a tooth that has clearly seen better days? If a tooth is severely decayed, chipped, cracked, or worn-down, a dental crown can often be an excellent solution. This restorative treatment is completely customized to give you back a fully functional tooth that looks like nothing was ever wrong with it in the first place. To find out whether you could benefit from dental crowns in Plano, TX, reach out to our friendly team at Legacy Trails Dental of Plano today!
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is essentially a personalized tooth covering. It fits over the entire section of the tooth that protrudes past the gumline. This way, it restores the structure and function that the tooth once had, while also protecting it from additional damage.
What’s more, crowns can even improve the appearance of a tooth with severe cosmetic flaws, such as stains or misshapenness. That’s because your dentist in Plano provides crowns made from tooth-colored zirconia instead of the dark metals traditionally used. Zirconia crowns are often just as durable as metal ones, but without being obvious in your smile.
The Dental Crown Process
Usually, getting a dental crown will take two appointments with a few short weeks in between them. During the first of these visits, you’ll meet with one of our talented dentists, who will carefully reshape your tooth so that the crown will fit. This may involve either removing an outer sliver of enamel or building up its structure. Then, we’ll capture impressions of your mouth, which are sent to a trusted local dental lab.
While the technicians at the lab are creating your crown, you’ll wear a temporary crown to protect your tooth. As soon as your final crown arrives at our office, we’ll have you return for your second visit, where we’ll switch out your temporary. We’ll make any last-minute adjustments to your crown, make sure it looks and feels natural, and then cement it over the tooth.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
You can look forward to numerous benefits when getting a dental crown. These include:
- A crown can potentially save your tooth from extraction by protecting it against damage, thereby helping you avoid the added time, expenses, discomfort, and oral health problems that come with tooth loss.
- The force of your bite won’t be shifted off-balance – which may happen when the arch of teeth isn’t fully even – possibly saving you from jaw pain and other complications.
- Crowns are strong enough to stand up to the pressure of chewing practically any food.
- As long as you take good care of your crown, it can easily last for a decade or longer.
- We always strive to make our crowns as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Onlookers won’t have to know that you’ve had some dental work done!
Dental Crown FAQs
Dental crowns are one of the most common restorations provided by dentists every day and for good reason. Their versatility allows dentists to restore teeth, create complex restorations to rebuild smiles, and much more. If you’ve never received a dental crown before or simply want to learn more about them ahead of your next appointment, you can look over a few of the most commonly asked questions our office receives below.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Dental crowns technically are not permanent because they will need to be replaced eventually. However, they are one of the best long-term solutions for problems like tooth decay or cracked/chipped teeth. What is permanent is the process of reshaping your tooth so a crown can fit properly on top. Since enamel does not grow back after it has been removed (or lost), the tooth will always need to be covered with a crown. With that said, your crown will protect your tooth from experiencing additional damage. This ensures it will remain healthy much longer compared to not being covered. The best way to take care of it is through daily oral hygiene, regular checkups and cleanings, and wearing a mouthguard or nightguard as needed.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Dental crowns cannot develop cavities because they are not made from organic material like tooth enamel. So, while crowns are not at risk of decay, the tooth underneath the crown can still develop cavities. Contrary to popular belief, crowned teeth are just as much at risk of developing decay as uncrowned teeth. If you have poor oral hygiene, plaque and bacteria can still form around the gum line where the tooth meets the crown and reach the underlying tooth. The easiest way to protect yourself is by brushing and flossing at home every day and visiting our office for a checkup every six months.
Are Dental Crowns Safe?
If the crown is placed by an experienced professional who knows what they’re doing, such as our dentists, it’s 100% safe to attach. Our office uses tooth-colored zirconia instead of traditional dark metals that contain mercury or other toxins you may not feel comfortable having inside your mouth. While there are cases where patients can have an allergic reaction to dental materials, these are extremely rare. If at any point you experience gum irritation, redness, or swelling near your newly placed dental crown, give our office a call right away as this could be indicative of an allergic reaction.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
Just like with dental fillings, the dentist will numb your tooth that needs to receive a dental crown. In most cases, all it takes is a topical anesthetic to prevent discomfort ahead of treatment. However, severely anxious or nervous patients are welcome to explore our sedation options if needed. During the preparation phase, your tooth is numbed as your tooth is modified. However, it’s not always numbed when the final crown is placed. Once preparation is finished and the temporary restoration is placed, you may experience some sensitivity that can last for a few days. Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed to get relief.