Dental Crowns Create a Beautiful Fix For Damaged or Diseased Teeth
At Valley Hills Dentistry, we use crowns and onlays (partial crowns) to improve the strength, functionality, and appearance of weak, diseased or damaged teeth.
Why Are Crowns Needed?
Like a broken arm needs a cast to heal, a cracked or broken tooth needs protection to heal. Dental crowns act as permanent caps for your teeth that can:
- Prevent pain, infection, or tooth loss
- Repair broken, worn down, or decayed teeth
- Replace large fillings when there isn’t enough tooth to hold a filling
- Protect weak teeth against breaking
- Restore broken teeth
- Attach dental bridges and implants
- Cover discolored or poorly shaped teeth
- Cap teeth after a root canal
How Do Dental Crowns Work?
When a tooth cannot support a filling, a crown is custom-made to fit over the entire portion of the tooth, showing above the gum line. Here's how it's done:
- Impressions or digital scans of your tooth are taken.
- Skilled dental technicians craft a crown custom-made to match your natural teeth, bone, and jaw.
- The crown is securely bonded or cemented onto your tooth.
- Typically, crowns take two appointments, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes.
What Are Crowns Made Of?
Unlike fillings, which are placed directly in the tooth, crowns are made in a dental lab. They can be made of various materials, including:
- Porcelain for a natural appearance
- Zirconia, a strong dental ceramic
- Lithium disilicate, another dental ceramic
See How Crowns Can Bring Your Smile Back
Schedule an appointment at Valley Hills Dentistry in Hickory, NC, to explore which dental crown solution works best to help you enjoy a healthier, more beautiful smile today.