Dental Crowns – Springfield, MO

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns restore the function, strength, and appearance of damaged teeth. One advantage of crowns is their ability to treat a wide variety of dental issues, making many patients a candidate for them. If you suffer form one or more of the following issues, dental crowns may be right for you:

• Fractured, broken, or cracked teeth
• Tooth with a large filling and not much natural tooth structure left
• Tooth that recently underwent root canal therapy
• Severely decayed tooth
• Recently received a dental implant
• Stained, misshapen, or otherwise cosmetically undesirable tooth

The Dental Crown Process

After we have determined that you’re a good candidate for a dental crown, we can begin the treatment process, which generally takes two appointments. During the first visit, the tooth is cleaned and prepped, which may involve building it up or shaving down a small amount of enamel, depending on the state of the tooth. Then, impressions are taken and sent off to a dental lab, where your crown will be carefully crafted. While this is occurring, you will wear a temporary plastic-like crown to protect your tooth. A few weeks later, when it’s ready, you’ll return to our dental office and the finished crown will be placed with a powerful bonding cement.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

One enormous benefit of dental crowns is their versatility. They can be used to correct several different kinds of imperfections in your smile, whether structural or cosmetic, in just one treatment. Another advantage is the fact that they’re constructed of all-ceramic materials. Ceramic is perfect at emulating natural tooth enamel, right down to the way light reflects off of it. Additionally, they are custom-made to suit your smile and blend right in with the surrounding teeth. No one except our dental team should be able to even tell that you got dental work done on that tooth! Dental crowns are also incredible because they can last up to fifteen years if you take proper care of them. That entails regular brushing, flossing, and checkups and cleanings with Dr. Tolliver and our team.

Dental Crown Frequently Asked Questions

Are you interested in repairing your beautiful pearly whites with one or more dental crowns? For your convenience, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we get about this restorative treatment below. If you don’t see the answer you’re looking for, feel free to call us right away and we’ll be happy to help!

Will My New Dental Crown Be Noticeable?

In the past, most dental crowns were made of shiny metals that stood out in a row of pearly whites. Thankfully, at Galleria Dental of Springfield we use beautiful, natural-looking ceramic. This material is well-known for how closely it mimics the appearance of healthy tooth enamel, and we’ll precisely craft your dental crown to make sure it looks just like the rest of your teeth.

Does Getting a Dental Crown Hurt?

We care about your comfort just as much as your smile. A small amount of enamel will need to be removed for the dental crown to fit in with the surrounding teeth. While this step may sound daunting, we ensure that it’s as pain-free as possible by applying local anesthetic. Just like with any other treatment, we won’t begin until you are completely comfortable. However, if you’re feeling particularly anxious, Your dentist can help you feel more relaxed with nitrous oxide. This quick, safe sedation option will help you feel light and content so you can sit back and relax while we take care of your smile. It’s effects wear off as soon as we remove the gas, so you can get back to enjoying the rest of your day without any grogginess.

Can a Crowned Tooth Get a Cavity?

Dental crowns do a great job of protecting the vulnerable tooth underneath from further damage or decay, however, it’s not invincible. While plaque and bacteria won’t be able to eat away at the dental crown itself, allowing them to build up around its base could let them slip in under its edge. Remember, your tooth had a thin layer of enamel removed to fit the dental crown over it, so it’s particularly susceptible to damage caused by plaque and bacteria. Thankfully, a thorough daily dental routine should be enough to keep your dental crown and the tooth underneath it healthy and clean. Make sure to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, floss between your teeth daily, and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash regularly.

What Can I Do to Extend the Lifespan of My Dental Crown?

While a dental crown can easily last for up to 15 years, there are a variety of factors in your everyday life that can influence its lifespan. You can make the most of your dental crown by:

• Practicing excellent at-home oral hygiene.
• Visiting your dentist for checkups twice a year.
• Wearing a custom-made nightguard if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding).
• Quit chewing on hard objects like ice, pen caps, or your fingernails.
• Stop using your teeth as tools to open packages or containers.

To see if dental crowns can help you regain your smile’s look and function, call us today to schedule your consultation.