You may be dealing with decayed or damaged teeth for various reasons. They may have become damaged due to decay, infection, or injury, making them too weak to withstand daily biting and chewing. As such, your teeth can also be a source of consistent pain and discomfort. If you don’t already have a dentist in or near Hampton/Griffin, Georgia, you’ll want to find one so you can find a solution.

Dental crowns are one such solution they might suggest. These restorations strengthen damaged teeth and help them function normally again, saving your oral health with a natural-looking restoration that seamlessly blends in with your smile.

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns refer to a restorative dental procedure that helps alleviate your discomfort. They are tooth-shaped coverings placed over broken or decayed teeth, with their primary function being to protect the remaining healthy tooth structure and prevent additional damage.

Crowns are typically made from the following materials:

• Porcelain
• Metal alloys
• Ceramic
• Resin
• Zirconia

Zirconia, in particular, is one of the most natural-looking materials used in restorative dentistry today.

How dental crowns help restore compromised teeth.

Dental crowns are time-tested restoration options that address many concerns at once, such as:

Restoring Damaged or Decayed Teeth

If your teeth are broken or deteriorating, dental crowns represent a reliable choice to restore them. They are custom-made and will fit precisely and snugly over the affected teeth, allowing them to provide support and stability. Placing a dental crown often saves the tooth from extraction, which has benefits for the health of your jaw bone.

Improving the Appearance of Discolored or Misshapen Teeth

Dental crowns aren’t reserved strictly for damaged teeth. They also significantly improve the appearance of discolored teeth and even help straighten slightly crooked teeth, creating a clean and uniform look.

The many materials used to make dental crowns are versatile and enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Porcelain resembles the natural color and texture of teeth, while ceramic reflects light like a natural tooth, giving it the most lifelike appearance.

Zirconia crowns are translucent, so they’ll transmit the color of adjacent teeth. They’re also made in a wide assortment of shades, making it easier to match the natural color of your teeth.

Your dentist will help you choose the right material for your crown to suit your smile.

Strengthening Weak or Cracked Teeth

No matter what caused the damage, a damaged tooth is a weaker tooth. And if left untreated, it can lead to more deterioration, leaving extraction as your only treatment option.

Dental crowns can hold a cracked tooth together and strengthen it, preventing it from getting any worse. It reinforces the entire structure in the process, helping you avoid serious oral health issues, as well, like an infection.

The Dental Crown Procedure

Traditionally, receiving a dental crown takes two appointments. Some dental offices offer same day crowns, which involve a similar process but don’t require an outside dental lab to make the restoration.

First Visit

During your initial visit, your dentist will prepare your tooth by removing some of the enamel layer. Doing so makes space for the restoration to rest on, ensuring it stays in place once bonded. Additionally, any tooth abscess, damage, or decay must be treated before the restoration is placed over the tooth.

Sometimes, dental crown procedures involve an additional step in which your dentist will use a filling material to build up part of the tooth and help create a strong foundation for the crown.

In any case, after preparing the tooth, your dentist will take impressions. These could take the form of physical impressions through the use of putty-like material, but currently, many dentists use a handheld scanner to create digital impressions. Regardless of which method they use, your dentist will send the impression to a dental lab for a technician to create your custom crown.

Because it can take up to three weeks for your new crown to arrive back at the office, you’ll need a protective layer for the remaining tooth structure. Your dentist will place a temporary crown, usually made from acrylic or resin.

Second Visit

Once your crown arrives at the office, you’ll have your second appointment, where your dentist will remove the temporary crown and clean your tooth. They’ll assess the shape, color, and fit of your new crown to ensure it blends in with your adjacent teeth before cementing. If everything looks good, they’ll bond the crown to your tooth using permanent dental cement.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns have several exciting benefits. Aside from strengthening and restoring damaged teeth, dental crowns also do the following:

• Enhance your appearance and confidence
• Improve functionality for chewing and speaking
• Provide a long-lasting and durable solution

Altogether, dental crowns are a wonderful solution that can last many years with proper care.

Put Your Smile Together Again

If you have concerns about chipped, decayed, or broken teeth, you need the services of a dental office in or near Hampton/Griffin, Georgia.

At Allred Family Dentistry, our experts can help improve your smile and make it easier to keep your mouth clean with our reliable dental crowns. Contact our office to learn more about these effective procedures and schedule a consultation to explore your options and restore your confidence!