Dental Crowns

High quality, lifelike tooth restoration in one visit - Willow Pass Dental Care - Concord

Dental crowns are a complete and lasting solution to the problem of an irreparably damaged, decayed, disfigured, or discolored tooth. Unlike other cosmetic procedures and treatments, such as porcelain veneers, crowns completely cover and encapsulate the exposed portion of the affected tooth. In effect, dental crowns are functional tooth replacements which, unlike dental implants, do not necessarily require that the damaged or disfigured tooth be first removed. Like implanted teeth, however, dental crowns are a fixed permanent solution. Once installed, they are typically not removed and can, with proper care and hygiene, last an entire lifetime without needing replacement.

Why dental crowns?

Dental crown procedures are a mainstay of most restorative dental practices in the world. The ability to cap and completely cover a tooth for health and aesthetic purposes while still providing a high degree of functional strength and resilience is incredibly useful. To this end, dental crowns are most often employed to provide permanent reinforcement and protection for damaged and decayed teeth. Teeth with large cavities, extensive fillings, cracks, fractures, and other forms of physical damage that severely weaken their structural integrity are good candidates for dental crowns. However, damage may not be the only consideration to getting a crown.

Aesthetic considerations may also be a concern for a dental crown procedure. Some patients may not be suitable candidates for partially-retentive restorative procedures, such as dental bonding treatments, for a variety of reasons. Bruxers, or patients who suffer from teeth grinding and jaw clenching disorders, may require more resilient crowns for restorative treatments to combat the stress their conditions place on their teeth. Likewise, many patients will find that less durable solutions simply won’t hold up over time due to the high bite forces exerted on certain parts of the mouth.

When You May Need A Dental Crown

• To repair a tooth with a large cavity
• To reinforce a tooth with extensive filling work
• To hold together a weakened tooth to prevent cracks and fractures
• To repair a fractured tooth
• To strengthen a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy
• To aesthetically improve a tooth that must also withstand high bite pressure (i.e. for patients with bruxism)
• To completely cover up a worn-down, damaged, or discolored tooth
• To serve as an abutment tooth for partially removable dentures
• To brace a dental bridge and hold it in place
• To cap a dental implant

Benefits of today's dental crowns

Dental crowns offer a versatile aesthetic and functional solution that can be employed to address both aesthetic and practical concerns. Some restorative techniques, such as veneers and dental bonding may not have the adequate longevity a patient requires. Other procedures may be too invasive, too time-consuming, or simply too expensive. Dental crown procedures offer a middle ground for patients looking to repair a severely damaged tooth without resorting to total extraction and still retaining functionality. Better yet, crowns can last a very long time.

Many patients, barring extreme circumstances, will never need to replace their crowns during their lifetime. Many dental crowns will last decades in spite of daily wear and tear with good dental hygiene and care. Most dental crowns are warrantied by the manufacturers for 10 years or more. As with many restorative dental procedures, longevity will vary from patient to patient depending on a broad range of factors including natural bite, preexisting conditions, the quality of the materials chosen, the manufacturer, and the experience of the dentist performing the operation. This is something Dr. Reza Khazaie and the team at Willow Pass Dental Care will address in your consultation to provide you with the best solution based on your pre-existing conditions and dental goals.

5 Benefits of Dental Crowns

• Longevity (dental crowns can often last decades -- often a lifetime)
• Durability (dental crowns can withstand extreme bite forces and wear and tear)
• No additional maintenance necessary (good dental hygiene still required)
• Highly aesthetic (dental crowns look and feel natural)
• Highly functional (dental crowns can function just like your original teeth)

The dental crown procedure in 1 visit -- and no temporaries

Dr. Reza Khazaie and the Willow Pass Dental Care team will do a routine check of the affected tooth to look for and measure any damage or decay. Depending on the extent of any damage or defects, Dr. Khazaie will either file down the tooth in question to accommodate the dental crown or utilize a filling material to build up the tooth to the appropriate shape and size.

Our Innovative Approach to Dental Crowns: The CEREC Procedure

After the tooth is prepped, we obtain a digital impression. This is done with a special powder coating and digital photo. Using the digital photo and the computer, Dr. Khazaie can then design the tooth restoration to provide the best function and aesthetic look. The dental crown is then milled on site with our latest in dental crown technology CEREC. Once it is completed, the crown is checked for proper fit and bite, then polished and bonded to your prepared tooth.

Utilizing CAD/CAM technology and our CEREC procedure, a patient can have their dental crown fitted, fabricated, and permanently put in place in a single day.

Four steps of a dental crown installation

• Fitting/impressions
• Preparation and shaping
• Crown fabrication
• Permanent placement

How much do dental crowns cost?

Costs for a dental crown procedure will vary from patient to patient, depending on a broad range of factors including the complexity of the operation, the type of materials chosen, the manufacturer, and insurance coverage. Generally speaking, a single crown will cost from a few hundred dollars to as much as a thousand dollars or more. However, most dental insurance plans will cover a significant portion of the cost.