What Is A Dental Crown?

Dental crowns and caps are replacements for damaged and missing teeth. The dental crown replaces the visible part of the tooth above the root. When the tooth's root is missing or must be replaced, dental implants can provide a permanent artificial tooth root or a dental bridge allows one or more crowns to be placed between existing teeth.

The Benefits

Damaged teeth can cause a number of problems for your oral health. Difficult and uncomfortable to clean, cracks and breaks in your teeth can harbor disease- and decay-causing bacteria. If left untreated, a broken smile can lead to gum disease and even tooth loss. Dental crowns can restore the form, function, and aesthetics of your smile in just a few appointments. The benefits of dental crowns include:

• A whiter smile

• Straighter, more evenly spaced teeth

• Improved ability to chew, eat, and speak

• Increased self-confidence

Types of Dental Crowns

There are generally three types of crowns: those made of gold, porcelain (all-ceramic) crowns and porcelain-veneered gold crowns. All of these crowns are durable and can be used on molars, where the forces from chewing and grinding are most prevalent. However, most people prefer porcelain crowns for the front teeth, since they can best resemble the natural tooth color and are more pleasing to the eye.

Porcelain on gold crowns

Porcelain crowns fused to gold are often used for molars providing strength and a more natural appearance. However, the use of a metal substructure makes it difficult to equal the translucent appearance of your natural teeth.

Gold Dental crowns

Gold dental crowns are used when appearance is a lesser priority to you. Gold is extremely workable, meaning gold crowns are a better fit than any other types. Gold crowns are also not susceptible to any chipping.

Porcelain Crowns

The most attractive, natural, and life-like crowns are those that reflect light like a healthy natural tooth. Dental crown materials that more closely match the light refraction index of a natural tooth will appear close to if not exactly like an adjacent natural tooth. This should be true in different light settings, meaning sun light, fluorescent and incandescent indoor light, as well as night club lighting. Porcelain crowns are the best choice for achieving the most natural looking tooth replacement. They come closest to achieving dental work that is undetectable.

Since porcelain crowns lack the metal substructure, the smile is not marked by the look of metal or the opaque appearance of porcelain on metal crowns. Advances in dentistry have led to porcelain restorations that are every bit as hard wearing and durable as their metal counterparts. As a result, patients who opt for porcelain crowns can enjoy the strength and durability of metal crowns in addition to a superior appearance. Read more about Porcelain Crowns.

The dental crown Procedure

Restoring your teeth with dental crowns has never been easier than with the advanced technique employed by cosmetic and restorative dentist Dr. Janet Visanescu. During your initial consultation, a comprehensive examination and a discussion of your goals and expectations will guide us in creating a treatment plan that can meet your needs.

Your existing tooth will need to be specially prepared to support your dental crown. All damaged or decaying tooth material will be removed, along with enough enamel to make room for the crown. At this point, Dr. Visanescu will make an impression of your bite and send the mold to our trusted dental laboratory, where your crowns will be fabricated.

Once the restorations have been sent back to our office, we can conduct the final treatment appointment. After ensuring the color, shape, and fit of your dental crowns is perfect for your smile, Dr. Visanescu will thoroughly clean your prepared tooth and lightly buff its surface to optimize the bond. Your crowns will be affixed using dental cement and after a few minutes under an accelerated hardening light, your new smile will be complete.

Dr. Janet Visanescu encourages her patients to explore the range of restorative treatments we provide at our office. To learn more about porcelain crowns and full gold crowns, visit our Patient Education Videos page and select the Crown & Bridge section.

Your Comfort Is Our Priority

Years of neglect or a traumatic injury can leave your smile broken and painful. Our office team shows great empathy and compassion for our patients and we want to take the time to identify with your story. Listening to you and working together to understand your needs will alleviate any fear you may have.

We offer nitrous oxide for patients suffering from dental phobia. We work hard to create a relaxing environment in our office and provide massage chairs as a part of our "comfort menu." In doing so, we hope to create the most relaxing, stress-free experience for you.

Learn More about Dental Crowns

At the office of Dr. Janet Visanescu, we believe that every one of our patients deserves a smile that makes them feel confident. Smiling, laughing, and speaking candidly can come naturally with a gorgeous grin. If broken, damaged, decaying, or missing teeth are making you hesitate to express yourself, Dr. Janet Visanescu can restore your smile with dental crowns from the comfort of her Louisville area office in LaGrange. To schedule a consultation, contact us today.