Dental Crowns

It is not uncommon for our dentists, Drs. Noles, Estes, and Steinhauer at Noles Family Dental to recommend getting a dental crown as part of your treatment plan. Learn more about why our dentists may suggest this type of smile restoration.

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a permanent dental restoration that looks and functions like your natural teeth. It is designed to strengthen, replace and restore the portion of the tooth that sits above the gum line.

The best way to describe a dental crown is to think of it as a cap for your teeth. Made out of durable material, such as porcelain or resin, the dental crown is custom made to fit over the top of your natural tooth or placed on top of a dental implant.

Since a dental crown only replaces the portion of the tooth above the gum, there needs to be some type of root system to anchor it in place. If a tooth’s roots are healthy and strong or have been restored with a root canal, the dental crown may use them as an anchor. If the roots are damaged, weakened or completely removed, the dental crown will need something to support it such as a post or an implant.

Dental Crowns Restore, Replace and Repair

Dental crowns are incorporated into many of our patients’ treatment plans because they are so versatile. They can do everything from repair and restore a weakened tooth to acting as a replacement for a missing tooth.

There are a number of reasons why our dentists may recommend getting a dental crown. Some of the most common include:

• Strengthening a tooth that has been weakened by severe decay
• Restoring and strengthening broken, cracked or severely worn teeth
• Changing the shape or size of a tooth
• Covering discolored teeth
• Replacing a missing tooth
• Providing a secure anchor for dental prosthetics such as bridges or dentures

The Dental Crown Process at Noles Family Dental

Several appointments will need to be made to get a dental crown. The first step of the dental crown process is performing any restorative treatment to improve the health of your tooth by removing any plaque or decay. Once all decay and plaque are removed, our dentist will shape your tooth in preparation for the dental crown.

After treating and reshaping the tooth, our dental team will need to take impressions to send to a dental lab that will create your custom-made dental crown. Our dental team will ensure that you are comfortable while taking your dental impressions.

Once dental impressions have been taken, our dentist will place a temporary filling or crown on your tooth. This will protect your teeth and gums while the lab makes your crown.

Once your dental crown has arrived at our Greensburg, Indiana dental office, our dentist will remove the temporary filling or crown and place the new one on your teeth. Our dentist will check to make sure the new crown fits securely to the teeth and doesn’t cause any problems with your bite. Most adjustments can be made right in the office by our dentist.

After our dentist has made any adjustments and verified that the dental crown fits, it is time to secure it in place. Dental cement is used to bond the dental crown and prevent it from moving, shifting or falling out.

See How Dental Crowns Could Improve Your Smile

Curious to see how dental crowns can be used to help you achieve your smile goals? Call Noles Family Dental to schedule a consultation. Our dentist will help you explore your treatment options and see exactly how a dental crown can improve or change your smile.