What are dental crowns, and how can they restore a tooth?

There are many situations that can arise in which a tooth is damaged significantly enough to require both the fabrication and placement of a dental crown. Dental crowns are custom-made porcelain restorations that act as caps covering the natural structure of your teeth. They are bonded onto the top of a prepared tooth to add strength, stability, and coverage to protect it from further damage or trauma. It prevents the necessity of extracting a tooth that may not be able to be saved. Drs. Brent White, Warren Willis, and Chad Cooley of Ten Mile Smiles in Meridian, Idaho, are here to educate you on the purpose of dental crowns and the process of obtaining and caring for them.

What can I expect from the process of obtaining dental crowns?

First, patients are advised that they might be ideal candidates for the placement of dental crowns. This may be due to damage to the natural tooth structure, a recent root canal procedure, or a large area of tooth decay that cannot be repaired using composite resin filling alone. Then, preparations are made, during which the natural tooth structure is removed around the tooth to make room for a dental crown. To create a dental crown that fits perfectly over the tooth, impressions or molds are taken to determine its shape and size. These are sent to our ceramist, who fabricates a dental crown that matches the surrounding teeth’ size, shape, and even the natural color to ensure the restoration looks natural when bonded in place.

How do I care for my dental crown?

Caring for dental crowns is easy. Brush and floss the teeth and crown as you usually do to remove food particles and reduce the risk of developing cavities and disease with plaque and tartar development. You will also be encouraged to visit Ten Mile Smiles regularly for examinations and cleanings, which allow us to check the dental crown and make adjustments or replacements over time as needed.

Schedule a visit to learn more about quality dental crowns!

Call 208-715-5000 to request an appointment at our Meridian, ID office at 3118 West Milano Drive, Suite #110. We are open to new patients in the surrounding cities of Boise and Eagle, Idaho.