Dental Crowns – Oak Cliff, TX
Rebuilding Damaged Teeth with Customized Restorations
Tooth enamel doesn’t have any way to fix itself the way your bones do. Consequently, a damaged tooth is a problem that won’t go away on its own. Fortunately, you have the option of asking Dr. Martinez for a personalized dental crown. The restoration will protect your tooth while also allowing you to once again enjoy a beautiful, natural-looking grin. If you’re interested in getting a dental crown at Kessler Park Dental, give us a call today.
Why Choose Kessler Park Dental for Dental Crowns?
- Expertly Designed, Long-Lasting Restorations
- Knowledgeable Dentist and Friendly Team
- Saturday Appointments Available
What is a Dental Crown?
Most patients are already familiar with the idea of a dental crown: a special cap that completely covers a tooth to help it function normally again and prevent further damage from occurring. Nowadays, crowns can be made using a variety of materials; our office prefers porcelain since it can closely match the appearance of natural teeth while still being durable enough to withstand the forces of biting and chewing.
Our team may suggest getting a dental crown if:
- You have a cavity that is too large to be repaired with a filling.
- You have a significantly cracked or otherwise broken tooth.
- You have a badly weakened tooth.
- You would like to replace a single missing tooth with a dental implant.
Rest assured that before we recommend dental crowns or any other forms of treatment, we will carefully consider all of your available options to determine what the right choice for your smile is.
The Dental Crown Process
Once you have committed to getting a dental crown, our team will need to file away a small amount of enamel from the top and sides of the tooth in question. The idea is to create enough space for the crown so that it sits flush with the other teeth; the last thing you want is for your restoration to stand out because it looks too large.
Next, we will create impressions of your tooth. Once we have what we need, we will give you a temporary crown to wear until your next appointment. Meanwhile, the impressions will be sent to a dental laboratory where the permanent crown will be made.
After a few weeks, you’ll return to our office to have your crown placed. Once we have cemented the restoration to your tooth, we can give you instructions for taking care of it.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Having a dental crown placed can keep your damaged tooth safe and reduce your chances of needing to have it removed altogether. You will also likely have an easier time chewing your food once the damaged enamel has been covered up. Taking care of a dental crown is easy, and you can expect a well-maintained one to last for a long time; in fact, some people are able to keep their crowns for as long as 15 years.
Dental Crown FAQs
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
While every person and every restoration is different, most dental crowns last somewhere between five and fifteen years. This depends on a few factors, including:
- The materials that your dental crown is made out of; metal crowns tend to be more durable than ceramic.
- Lifestyle habits, like smoking.
- How well you take care of your restoration through dental hygiene.
- Where the crown is located, as this impacts how much pressure they’re under.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
While the dental crown itself can’t develop cavities, the tooth underneath it still can. It’s possible for bacteria to sneak under the restoration and begin to attack the enamel—in fact, it’s just as likely for a crowned tooth to develop decay as an uncrowned one.
For that reason, it’s still critically important that you continue to take care of your restoration, and the tooth underneath, via thorough dental hygiene.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Get a Dental Crown?
We don’t recommend dental treatment lightly—if we’ve said you need a dental crown to deal with a health issue it’s because it’s important. Putting off the procedure only means that the damage will likely get worse, and that what may have been treatable with a dental crown may then need a root canal or extraction. For that reason, you should be sure to act fast based on the prognosis we give you.
Are Dental Crowns Covered by Insurance?
While every dental company is different, dental crowns that you get for medically necessary reasons are typically at least partially covered. In this case, they’ll usually pay for around 50% of the total cost of care, though again, this varies from plan to plan. We’ll help you to coordinate with your dental insurance company in order to make sure that they’re getting the most out of your coverage.
