When teeth may become damaged due to injury or tooth decay, the patient and their dentist must decide if the tooth can be saved and how much can be saved. A dental crown is a way to not only save an existing tooth but also to restore it so that it can be used for biting and chewing.
Crowns are custom-made to be indistinguishable from your existing teeth and cover the damaged tooth from the chewing surface down to the gum line. Dr. Ken Schweifler can create and place crowns for his patients for both medical and cosmetic purposes. While you may have heard of dental crowns, you may not understand how they can help your teeth look healthy while also restoring functioning.
At our Los Altos, CA dental practice, Dr. Schweifler wants his patients to understand the treatment options available to them and their advantages. Read on to learn about the benefits of dental crowns and how they can help restore your oral health
Crowns help relieve discomfort.
Dr. Schweifler often uses dental crowns to complete a restorative treatment, repairing damage to a tooth’s enamel or structure. If you suffer from extensive decay, an infection of a tooth’s root, or injury to your tooth enamel such as a fracture, chip, or break, you may feel pain when you eat or drink. If the issue is severe enough, you may have constant discomfort. Once Dr. Schweifler addresses the underlying issue with your tooth with an appropriate treatment (filling, root canal, etc.), the remaining portion of the tooth may still be vulnerable to future damage or infection. A dental crown can protect your tooth against this while also reducing sensitivity.
Crowns are a simple procedure.
You might think that getting dental crowns would be a complicated or intense procedure, but in reality, this treatment is minimally invasive and relatively simple. Once your tooth enamel has been cleaned and the damaged parts are removed, Dr. Schweifler will shape your tooth so that it can securely hold a crown. Next, he will make a mold of your tooth from which your crown will be cast. The casting process will usually take about two weeks but you will be given a temporary crown in the meantime so that you can talk and chew normally. When it’s ready, Dr. Schweifler will place it over your prepared tooth and it will be held in place with a strong bonding cement.
Crowns are custom-made for you.
Dr. Schweifler and our dental lab team will design your dental crown according to the shape, size, and hue of your existing tooth. Once the slight soreness around the area subsides, you will most likely forget you even have a crown and most people probably won’t be able to notice unless you tell them.
Crowns can restore the appearance of teeth.
Dental crowns are mainly intended to restore teeth to health and relieve dental discomfort, but they also offer numerous cosmetic benefits. Because they fit over the existing tooth, they can instantly correct discoloration, staining, misshapen teeth, crookedness, chips, cracks, fractures, and more. Therefore, they can be used to correct some purely cosmetic issues, much like porcelain veneers cosmetic bonding, however, this may not be covered by your insurance. Consult with Dr. Schweifler’s dedicated staff about what your insurance will and will not cover.
Crowns last many years.
Dr. Schweifler uses strong materials to create our patients’ dental crowns. With careful use and maintenance such as daily brushing and flossing, as well as routine examinations and cleanings from Dr. Schweifler or your area dentist, these prosthetic tooth coverings can last between 15 and 30 years.
Enjoy the Advantages of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can help you preserve and restore damaged teeth and Dr. Schweifler would like to help you with this treatment if you need it. If you’re in the Los Altos, CA area, contact us online or call (650) 489-4620 to find out more about crowns or any others or to schedule a routine cleaning.