Do you need a dental crown, bridge, or veneer? Don’t worry! At brush365 we go above and beyond to ensure you have a comfortable experience. The procedure is safe and is performed to make your teeth stronger, last longer, and to restore your smile to its natural beauty.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Sometimes called a dental cap, a dental crown is a synthetic material that is used to cover a tooth or tooth implant. A crown not only helps to preserve the functional benefits of a tooth but the aesthetic benefits of a tooth as well.
Crowns are designed to look exactly like real teeth. So, by having a crown inserted, your smile will either be maintained or improved substantially.
There are a number of reasons why a crown might be necessary:
- Protecting a decayed or damaged tooth (such as a cracked or worn teeth)
- Covering a tooth mostly covered with a filling
- Securing a dental bridge
- Covering a discolored or misshapen tooth
- Protecting a dental implant
- Covering a tooth that’s undergone a root canal
- Cosmetic enhancements of shape and color of the teeth
Types of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can be made out of a variety of different materials, each of which comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. At brush365 we exclusively provide porcelain crowns. This material is the strongest while also looks the most natural. Porcelain crowns are capable of lasting a long time. We usually anticipate 5-15 years of life out of a porcelain crown depending on the health of the underlying tooth and the rest of the mouth. If you have a metal based or gold crown and would like it replaced to be more esthetic yet also strong, a porcelain crown may be the right choice for you!
The Dental Crown Procedure
At brush365, we are proud to be one of less than 4% of offices in the country to provide same day crown technology. Schedule permitting, we will always strive to get your crown, bridge, and/or veneer to you within one visit.
At your visit, our caring team will take any necessary x-rays. Your dentist will then use a numbing agent to put the tooth to sleep. Once you are numb, the tooth (or teeth) are prepped. A digital, optical impression is taken and your restoration is designed with optimal contours and shape. It is then milled in-office and custom stained/glazed to create a highly esthetic outcome. The crown is then cemented or bonded onto the tooth using optimal isolation protocols. An x-ray is usually taken to ensure proper seating and your bite will be checked to confirm that it is normal.
What is a CEREC Dental Crown?
CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, is innovative technology that combines computer design and modeling programs with an all-in-one milling unit to create high-quality dental restorations right in a dentist’s office. With traditional dental crowns, patients often have to wait weeks for their restoration to be created in a dental lab. In contrast, CEREC technology can craft a new crown from a ceramic block that perfectly matches your smile, all in a single visit to the dentist!
Is Feeling Numbness Normal?
A local anesthetic is often used to prevent discomfort during the dental crown procedure, so you may still experience numbness in your mouth for several hours after you leave our office. Patients are recommended to avoid drinking hot beverages or chewing on hard foods until the numbing effect has completely subsided to avoid accidentally burning your mouth or trauma biting your tongue or lip.
In addition, you may experience some slight bruising and inflammation at the site of the anesthetic injection. This should go away on its own without any additional treatment needed.
Will I Feel Pain After Getting a Crown, Bridge, or Veneer?
Most patients experience some mild pain or discomfort near the treatment area for a few days or weeks following a dental crown procedure. To reduce pain and swelling, we recommend rinsing your mouth with warm salt water three times a day. In addition, over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen can help ease any residual discomfort.
Keep in mind that it will take a bit of time to adjust to the feel of a new bite. However, if your bite still does not seem right after a week, please contact our office so we can evaluate you for a bite adjustment.
If the pain from your dental crown persists and you feel sensitivity to hot and cold foods, you may need a root canal treatment. Sometimes even the best fitting crowns cannot prevent the need for a root canal treatment. It all depends on how your nerve responds to treatment and how deep the pre-existing decay and fractures are.
What Can I Eat After Getting a Crown?
After the numbing effect of the anesthetic has worn off, you should be able to get back to eating almost all of your favorite foods as normal. However, it is recommended that you avoid extremely hard or sticky foods to prolong the lifespan of your restoration.
It’s important to note that crowns can stain just like natural teeth. So take caution in using tobacco products or drinking things like coffee and red wine. We strongly recommend you see us every 6 months for your professional cleaning to counteract this staining!
Can I Still Brush Normally?
Natural teeth capped by crowns, including CEREC crowns, are still susceptible to decay – particularly along the gum line. For this reason, it is important that you maintain excellent oral hygiene by brushing twice a day for a full two minutes each time and flossing once daily. In addition, you should visit your friendly team at brush365 every six months for a routine dental exam and professional cleaning.
Special note for patients getting cosmetic Crowns, Bridges, and/or Veneers
If you are electing to make a cosmetic enhancement to your smile, our team will schedule a complimentary consultation with you to discuss your goals. Several pictures will be taken to provide an accurate analysis and recommendation from your dentist.
While replacing a single tooth with a crown or veneer will usually take under 2 hours, doing a full smile makeover can often take a full day. Our team will discuss scheduling options with you so that you can have the smile of your dreams! We take great pride in providing stellar results. We encourage you to visit our Instagram page to see our before and after pictures: @brush365dental