Protecting natural teeth with dental crowns
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a ceramic dental restoration fabricated to cover a tooth to protect it from additional damage while strengthening it for proper function. This porcelain restoration is custom-made for the patient based on their existing teeth, matching color, shape, and size. Because porcelain is a material that closely resembles the natural tooth enamel, it is the obvious choice for crowns and other dental restorations used at the practice of Dr. Brian Gradinger.
Why might I need a dental crown?
There are several reasons why our patients might benefit from the placement of a dental crown. Below are just a few of the more common situations where dental crowns may be recommended:
- Cavities/decayed teeth
- Teeth with large fillings that compromise the tooth structure
- Cosmetic enhancement to cover imperfections such as permanent staining
- Broken/cracked/fractured teeth
- Teeth that have recently had root canal therapy performed (which can weaken natural enamel and cause teeth to become brittle)
Case Samples
13 Porcelain Crowns and Single Porcelain Implant Crown
- Patient has history of severe clenching, and grinding.
- After restoring all areas of decay over the past few years it was time for her to get a NEW SMILE!
- After years of severe grinding and attrition, the patient had a collapsed bite, meaning her top and bottom teeth had become shorter and closer together.
- Our patient’s excessive grinding even resulted in one tooth cracking so severely that we had to remove the tooth and replace it with a dental implant.
- To stabilize the patient’s teeth and jaw for the long term we recommended that we open her bite back to its original position prior to the grinding.
- To accomplish this, we recommended new crowns on all of her top teeth including one implant crown.
Eight porcelain crowns
- Long time patient has never liked her smile but was too busy with work to make time for herself
- Her retirement gift was a NEW SMILE!!
- Patient had existing crowns on her two front teeth, and large fillings on adjacent teeth
- Patient also has a strong bite and clenches which has lead to some gum recession
- In order to complete an adequate smile transformation we recommended eight teeth be included
- Patient has existing crowns on her back teeth which did not need to be replaced at this time
What does getting a crown involve?
Patients often ask Dr. Brian Gradinger about what they can expect from obtaining dental crowns. Dental crowns require two appointments. During the first, the tooth is prepared with the removal of the natural tooth enamel around the tooth’s core. Then, impressions are used to create a mold that a dental ceramist will use to make the final restoration. Patients will have a temporary crown placed when they leave the office on the first visit, which will be removed when they return to have their final dental crown bonded over the prepared tooth.
A consultation visit is the first step to tooth repair!
Dental crowns are a great way to address damage to the natural tooth structure. If you live in Valencia, CA, and want to speak to a professional about the benefits of a tooth cap, call Dr. Brian Gradinger and his team today! The office is located at 23838 Valencia Boulevard, Suite #301, and can be reached at (661) 450-6650.
