Dental crowns are a common restorative dentistry treatment that restores a damaged tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance. At Peak Dental, we offer dental crowns to our Winchester, VA patients whenever necessary. With dental crowns, you can protect your teeth and continue your daily activities.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” placed over a tooth to cover it and restore its shape and size. The crown also helps improve the tooth’s strength and appearance. Think of a dental crown as a protective helmet for your tooth, shielding it from further damage.
Dental Crowns in Winchester, VA
Dental crowns are a versatile and effective way to restore damaged teeth. They can also improve the look of your smile cosmetically, and they can improve your oral health.
Tooth decay, large fillings, and some procedures can weaken teeth. As a result, the tooth is more likely to break or crack under the pressure of chewing. To prevent this, we use dental crowns to provide a protective barrier. The dental crown holds the tooth together and distributes the chewing force more evenly across the tooth.
Teeth can break due to trauma, such as a fall or an accident, or from biting down on something hard. A broken tooth affects your smile and can also cause pain and sensitivity. A dental crown can restore the tooth’s shape, size, and function. So, it looks and feels like a natural tooth. This restoration is crucial for both the look and function of your teeth.
For patients with missing teeth, we may use dental crowns to accommodate your restoration. For example, a dental bridge is a solution for replacing one or more missing teeth. These crowns hold the bridge securely. This makes sure that the replacement teeth stay in place and function like natural teeth. As a result, your teeth stay in place and avoid shifting. Dental crowns also cover the titanium posts for dental implants.
Teeth can wear down over time due to habits like grinding (bruxism) or clenching. This wear can lead to a loss of tooth structure, making teeth shorter and less functional. Crowns can restore the original height and shape of worn-down teeth.
What to Expect with Dental Crowns
Getting a dental crown usually involves two visits to the dentist. During your first visit, Winchester, VA, dentist Dr. Aaron Barborka will examine your tooth and take X-rays to check the roots and surrounding bone. If there is severe decay or risk of infection, a root canal treatment may be required first. Then, he will number the tooth and the surrounding area. Here, he will reshape the tooth to fit the crown.
After reshaping, the dentist will take an impression of the tooth. This helps in making a crown that fits perfectly. We will place a temporary crown to protect the tooth while the permanent crown is made.
During the second visit, Dr. Barborka will remove the temporary crown and clean the tooth. He will check the new crown for fit and color. Once everything looks good, the dentist will numb the tooth and cement the crown in place.