When you have a broken tooth, or a fractured or infected one, then you may need a restoration to avoid complications, including tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about using a crown to repair your tooth, and how we ensure each one will look natural and fit comfortably.
The Dental Crown
A full dental crown is a custom-made restoration that covers the entire visible portion of each tooth, everything above your gum line. The crown could help address a wide array of serious issues, both cosmetic and restorative. For example, we can treat advanced cases of tooth decay, or complete a root canal procedure for those with infected teeth. We provide durable repair for broken, chipped, or fractured teeth, and lengthen the ones worn down by bruxism (teeth grinding). Placement could also address esthetic issues, reshaping malformed or damaged teeth, and masking permanent discoloration at the same time. If you have missing teeth, we could help anchor a dental bridge in place, or provide a lifelike restoration for a single tooth dental implant.
Partial Options
Partial ones, known as inlays and onlays, are also available. These address issues too significant for a filling or bonding procedure, but not severe enough to require a full restoration. They will be made from lifelike materials as well. The inlay fits in between the cusps on top of the tooth, while the onlay fits over the cusps.
Lifelike Materials
For the front-facing teeth, the most visible ones, we often opt for all porcelain. Not only is porcelain a durable and strong material, but the material is translucent like enamel and contains stain-resistant properties. We always color-match it to ensure it blends with your smile, and could even whiten teeth ahead of time to ensure it matches your brightest possible smile. For the side and rear teeth, which must endure greater bite forces, we may opt for options like porcelain-fused-to-metal or zirconia, which also offers a lifelike appearance but greater strength and durability as well.
Placement
To place them, we need two visits. In the first, we remove structure from the tooth and take detailed digital images and measurements. You then return home while our team fabricates the crown in a dental lab setting. When you return about two weeks later, we check the fit and place the final product with a powerful bonding agent. You then leave with a restored tooth that looks natural and gives you every reason to smile.
Do You Have Questions About Our Custom Crowns?
A dental restoration could help restore the function, health, and beauty of your smile in as little as two visits. To learn more about repairing smiles with a custom restoration, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
