Dental crowns are fantastic options for when you experience a damaged tooth. Instead of replacing the entire tooth, which involves extraction and a procedure to replace the tooth, you can elect to have the tooth repaired using porcelain crowns. Dr. Colleen Williamson and her talented team at Grand Dental Arts in Toms River, New Jersey, can provide services such as tooth crown replacement using porcelain crowns that will have your smile feeling and looking as good as new.

Dental Crown Treatment

Dental crowns are also known as “caps.” They cover the tooth offering an additional layer of strength and protection while allowing it to continue functioning without incurring more damage.

These restorations are custom-made in a lab to match your teeth. Porcelain is a popular material used in this process because of its aesthetic quality and strength. The material can be altered to fit the color of your teeth, ensuring it looks one hundred percent natural once it’s bonded in place.

Using proper care, you can expect porcelain crowns to last 5-15 years or more before it needs to be replaced.

While in place, the crown will protect your damaged tooth from further decay and damage and can also reduce tooth sensitivity.

Another benefit is that these crowns are stain resistant and can remain the perfect shade of white no matter what you eat or drink. Porcelain is also pretty low-maintenance, meaning you won’t need special gels or toothpaste to keep it looking good; brush and floss as usual.

And if Dr. Williamson does recommend that you have the tooth removed and replaced, you can opt to have a dental implant using a porcelain crown set to serve as a replacement.

When You Might Need a Dental Crown

A dental crown can be used to:

• Treat teeth that are decayed or otherwise damaged
• Strengthen and protect a tooth that has a large cavity
• Cover a tooth that’s undergone a root canal
• Bind together more than one piece of a cracked tooth
• Improve the tooth’s appearance
• Connect to a dental bridge
• Protect weaker teeth from breaking
• Serve as a cap on a dental implant

The Dental Crown Process

During your first visit, Dr. Williamson will take a few x-rays of the tooth to be crowned, and she may recommend other treatments, such as a root canal. Reasons for a root canal can include the presence of tooth decay, damaged tooth pulp, and the risk of infection.

The tooth is then filed down across the sides and top. This ensures enough space for the crown to fit over the tooth. The amount of natural tooth material that needs to be filed depends on the type of crown you have installed.

After your tooth is reshaped, impressions are taken using the iTero scanner to capture a 3D image of your mouth digitally. The images are then sent to an offsite lab, where they will make your crowns, and we usually get them back in the office in about three weeks. During your first visit, you’ll leave Dr. Williamson’s office with a temporary crown to protect and cover your tooth while you await the creation of your permanent crown.

During your second visit, Dr. Williamson will set and place your new permanent crown by removing the temporary crown. She’ll want to check the fit and appearance of your crown, and if everything checks out, she will bond the crown in place.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

To find out if dental crowns are the right fit, contact Grand Dental Arts at 732-286-7000 to set up your consultation to see Dr. Williamson today or visit us at 14 Grand Ave Toms River, NJ.

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