Dental Crowns in Dunn, NC
Dental crowns are a versatile solution for restoring and enhancing your smile, offering both restorative and cosmetic benefits. They can repair damaged or decayed teeth, allowing you to eat and speak with confidence. Tooth-colored crowns also cover discolored or misshapen teeth, giving you a uniform, natural-looking smile. By improving both oral health and appearance, crowns can boost your self-esteem and help you smile without hesitation. At J. Michael Williams, DDS, we take pride in delivering high-quality dental crowns tailored to your specific needs. Whether you need to fix a broken tooth, address severe decay, or simply enhance your smile, our team is here to help.
What Is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are a staple in modern dentistry, known for their adaptability and effectiveness. We generally use these custom tooth coverings to restore and strengthen damaged teeth. By covering the entire tooth, crowns enhance the tooth’s appearance and restore its function and structural integrity. Additionally, an artificial crown can top a dental implant to provide a natural and durable solution to tooth loss.
We offer various types of dental crowns made from different materials, and each offers specific benefits. For example, porcelain and ceramic crowns are favored for their natural appearance, as they can closely match the color of natural teeth. Metal crowns, made from gold or other alloys, offer exceptional durability and are often used for molars. For a balance of aesthetics and durability, zirconia crowns are an excellent choice, providing a natural look with high strength.
The Restorative Benefits of Dental Crowns
When a tooth is weakened by decay, a large filling, or a crack, it becomes susceptible to further damage and may even break. To protect it, we use a crown to cover the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line. The crown holds together the parts of a cracked tooth and prevents the crack from worsening. Crowns also restore teeth that are already broken or severely worn down, providing the strength and durability needed for proper function.
If you have lost teeth due to decay, injury, gum disease, or another cause, we can replace them with dental implants. This option provides a reliable solution for replacing missing teeth because they function as artificial tooth roots. We begin by inserting a small titanium post into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth. Once implanted, the post fuses with the bone through osseointegration, creating a stable and sturdy foundation for the crown. After the implant integrates with the jawbone, we attach a dental crown. This crown matches the surrounding teeth in color, shape, and size, restoring function and appearance.
In addition to conventional dental implants, we also specialize in mini dental implants. These smaller implants allow us to use a minimally invasive placement method. Because of their slim design, mini dental implants are perfect for patients with less bone density or volume as well as those looking for a less invasive procedure. This method reduces discomfort and recovery time, enabling you to enjoy a fully restored smile with minimal disruption to your daily life.
Dental crowns can also anchor dental bridges, which are sometimes used when multiple teeth in a row are missing. A bridge includes one or more artificial teeth with crowns on each end. The crowns attach to the healthy neighboring teeth, effectively “bridging” the gap. This method not only fills the space left by missing teeth but also keeps your remaining teeth aligned and supports proper bite function.
The Cosmetic Benefits of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns offer significant cosmetic benefits, enhancing the overall appearance of your smile. We provide tooth-colored dental crowns that can improve the look of teeth that are misshapen, discolored, or contain large fillings. These crowns match the color and shape of your natural teeth, ensuring your smile looks seamless and natural. Our dental crowns are particularly effective at covering imperfections like chips, cracks, or severe discolorations that other treatments, such as teeth whitening, might not fully address. By concealing these flaws, crowns can give your teeth a uniform appearance.
The Dental Crown Process
What can you expect during your appointment for a dental crown? The first step involves a thorough examination and preparation of the tooth. To begin the dental crown process, we first numb the area with local anesthesia. We then reshape the tooth by filing down the enamel to make room for the crown. After preparing the tooth, we take an impression and send it to a lab to create your custom crown. While you wait for your custom restoration, we will fit a temporary crown to protect the tooth.
When you return for your second visit, we’ll check that the permanent crown fits comfortably and matches your smile before permanently cementing it into place.
Restore and Enhance Your Smile With Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are an exceptional solution in restorative dentistry, offering protection and aesthetic improvement for your teeth. At J. Michael Williams, DDS, we specialize in quality dental crowns that repair, strengthen, and enhance damaged or weakened teeth and even replace missing ones.
Experience how dental crowns can boost your oral health and self-esteem. Schedule your appointment today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental crowns, especially those made from materials like porcelain and ceramic, are highly stain-resistant. However, they are not completely stain-proof and may become discolored over time. Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly and visiting us for professional cleanings is important. Additionally, reducing your intake of staining substances such as coffee, tea, and red wine and using a soft-bristled toothbrush can help keep your dental crowns looking their best.
A dental crown typically lasts up to 15 years (or longer!). The longevity of a crown depends on factors such as the materials used, the accuracy of its placement, and the level of oral hygiene maintained. Practicing good oral care and attending regular dental checkups is important to ensure your dental crown lasts as long as possible.
After getting a dental crown, it is important to follow certain restrictions and care instructions to ensure proper healing and the longevity of your new dental crown:
- First 24 hours: Avoid sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy foods to prevent dislodging or damaging the crown, especially if it is a temporary one.
- Oral hygiene: Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. When flossing, slide the floss out rather than lifting it to avoid dislodging the crown.
- Managing discomfort: Some soreness and sensitivity in the gums and teeth are normal after the procedure. To manage discomfort, rinse with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen.
- Adjustments: If the crown feels too high or causes discomfort, contact our office for an adjustment.