get Dental Crowns in Alexandria

A dental crown is a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its strength, function, and appearance. While getting a crown requires removing some tooth structure, it’s often the best option for saving and protecting a severely damaged tooth.

Is Your Tooth a Good Candidate for a Crown?

Not every tooth can support a crown. Some key factors include:

• Tooth Strength: If a tooth is too damaged or has little structure left, additional treatments like orthodontic or gum procedures may be needed to create a stable foundation.
• Fit & Comfort: A proper crown should fit securely and not cause gum irritation. If gums around the crown are red and swollen, it may be due to poor fit or improper placement.

Types of Dental Crowns

Crowns come in different materials, each with its own benefits:

• Gold Crowns – Extremely durable but less natural-looking.
• Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal – A blend of strength and aesthetics.
• Zirconia & Porcelain Crowns – Highly natural-looking and strong, great for front or back teeth.

Choosing the right type depends on your needs and preferences. Our team will help you find the best option for your smile!

How long does it take to create a dental crown?

After the remaining tooth structure is assessed and found to be a good candidate for a crown, fabricating a crown requires at least two visits to our office.

Initially, we will remove decay, shape the tooth, take an impression and construct a provisional crown made of acrylic resin or other hard plastic. On the subsequent visit, Kenneth M. Van Stralen, DDS will remove the provisional crown, cement or bond it into place and then adjust the bite.

Key Benefits of Dental Crowns

• Replaces missing tooth structure of a severely damaged tooth
• Protects remaining tooth structure as in the case of cracked tooth or of a back tooth that has undergone root canal therapy
• Looks and feels like natural tooth
• Fixes functional chewing problems

What are the capabilities of crowns?

Crown and bridgework is a time-tested solution for major dental problems caused by traumatic accidents, caries or wear. Major problems can usually be corrected using these restorations.

When a traumatic accidental occurs or when teeth have broken down due to bruxism or as the result of old fillings breaking, crowns and/or bridges can be an excellent long-term solution.

In some cases, patients who have unexplained pain from filled back teeth may have hairline cracks in the unrestored part of the tooth. Placing a crown on these teeth can relieve the pain and allow a return to function for these teeth. In front teeth, older fillings can weaken teeth and appear unesthetic due to staining or chipping. Porcelain crowns and bridges are suitable in cases where insufficient tooth structure remains to support porcelain veneers . In back teeth that have undergone root canal therapy, crowns are necessary to prevent breakage. A front tooth that has undergone root canal therapy requires a crown only if significant tooth structure has been lost.