Dental crowns are one of the most versatile restorative dental solutions. Crowns are used to address a wide range of common restorative and cosmetic dental concerns.
To give patients a natural looking and long lasting solution to their needs, today’s dental crowns are typically made using a tooth-colored material. Tooth-colored crowns come in a wide range of natural-looking shades, allowing patients to choose a shade that blends seamlessly with their existing teeth.
Greenway Dental Care designs and places dental crowns in our Fayetteville, AR dentist office. Our team can customize your dental crown to suit your unique needs.
Who Should Consider A Dental Crown?
Depending on your needs, we may recommend a dental crown for various reasons.
Reasons you may need a dental crown may include:
- A cavity that is too large for a traditional dental filling
- To address a misshapen tooth
- Cracked, damaged, or weakened tooth
- To stabilize a tooth after a root canal
- To cover a stained or discolored tooth
- Add support to a dental bridge
- To complete a dental implant
Inlays and Onlays
For minor instances of tooth damage, a dental crown may not be necessary. Instead, we may recommend a dental inlay or onlay. Also referred to as partial crowns, inlays and onlays are stronger and more stable than a regular dental filling but not as strong a dental crown. They are often placed on the molars and provide a stable, long-lasting solution for damage or significant decay impacting teeth with multiple cusps.
Greenway Dental Care dentists will evaluate your teeth to determine whether you need an inlay or onlay. To receive an inlay or onlay, it will require at least two visits to our Fayetteville dentist office.
- Inlays: This restoration repairs the chewing surface of a tooth. It is fitted into the grooves of a tooth but does not extend fully over the cusps of a tooth.
- Onlays: This restoration is sometimes referred to as in indirect filling and is designed to restore the cusp of a damaged tooth. An onlay is often used to cover a more extensive area of damage or to repair the entire biting surface of one or more teeth.
What Happens During The Dental Crown Procedure?
Receiving a dental crown typically requires at least two visits to our Fayetteville dentist office.
During the preparation process, Greenway Dental Care dentists will remove any decay. If necessary, a small amount of tooth structure may also need to be removed.
After the teeth are prepared, Greenway Dental Care dentists will take impressions of the teeth to create the dental crown. While you wait for your crown, we may place a temporary crown to protect your tooth. Once the new crown is ready, we will remove the temporary crown and place the final crown over the affected tooth. If needed, any adjustments are made during the final appointment.
Caring for your new dental crown is similar to caring for your natural teeth. To maintain your dental crown, continue to practice excellent oral hygiene. With proper dental care and routine maintenance, your dental crown can last many years.
Dental Crown FAQ
How long does a dental crown last?
It is possible for a dental crown to last over 15 years. How well you take care of your oral hygiene after the crown is placed is a major factor in how long it will last. To avoid damaging your crown, you should avoid chewing on hard objects such as pen caps, ice, or finger nails. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, we highly recommend wearing a mouthguard at night. These precautions will help your dental crown last for many years.
Can I have my teeth whitened once my dental crown is placed?
It is not possible to whiten a dental crown or any dental restoration for that matter. If you whiten your teeth after a restoration is placed, it will appear darker than the rest of your teeth. If you have the desire for whiter teeth, it would be best to whiten them before the restoration is placed especially if the crown will be visible when you smile. That way, we can color match your new crown to the whitened teeth.
Are dental crowns painful?
The process to have a crown placed is not horribly painful thanks to anesthetics. Dr. Keech will thoroughly numb the area around the tooth that is being treated. At the most, you may feel a little pressure or some minor discomfort. If you experienced any major sensitivity, pain or discomfort after the crown is placed, please call our office to have it looked at.