Dental crowns are one of the most effective ways to provide protection and restore damaged teeth, either because they are worn and weak, due to fractures, extensive fillings, or decay. Dental crowns are caps that cover the visible part of teeth to the gum line to improve appearance and functionality. In general, crowns can offer a longer-lasting restoration than just a regular filling since the whole tooth is surrounded and protected from fractures. The team at My Dentist at Morgan Creek provides crowns in South Surrey as part of our general dentistry services. There are three categories of crowns that can be offered to our patients: full metal (e.g. gold alloys), porcelain fused to metal (PFM), and porcelain (most common).
The Revolutionary CEREC®1 Appointment Crowns
My Dentist at Morgan Creek is proud of being one of the first dental offices in Canada to fabricate customized ceramic crowns. We offer our patients a quick solution to get back their smiles in a single day with CEREC®1 Appointment Crowns. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics and it is a revolutionary method that makes it possible to complete several dental procedures in a single appointment. We are able to fabricate your new crown while you wait thanks to a high-quality camera and a computer. The camera captures images of teeth from all angles and displays the three-dimensional design on the computer screen. We use this design for milling or 3-D printing of the crown.
Best of all, CEREC®1 Appointment Crowns maintain tooth integrity and restore the functionality (chewing) and aesthetics (beautiful smile) immediately. They are biocompatible and lead to longer-lasting gum health and the ability to chew in the same way as a natural tooth. Also, unlike traditional crown procedures which shave your tooth into a stamp and weaken the tooth, the CEREC® method only removes the weakest and most damaged part of your tooth and only bad enamel, allowing us to bring the tooth back to over 90% of its original strength.
The Advantages of Dental Crowns
Provide Protection & Strength
A dental crown can strengthen a tooth that has been damaged by decay and a large portion of it has been replaced by a filling. Crowns are often used after root canal procedures, especially if the decay has affected the upper part of the teeth.
Restoration
Damaged, broken, or worn down teeth can also be restored by dental crowns. By restoring the tooth structure, we can also restore a patient’s bite or occlusion and the functionality of the tooth.
Enhance Appearance
Dental crowns are also used to enhance and restore the appearance of teeth and a patient’s smile. For example, damaged, discolored or teeth with silver fillings can spoil the appearance of your smile. Custom-made crowns are a great way to transform stained or misshapen teeth and restore your smile.
The Application Procedure
Having dental crowns installed is minimally invasive. The procedure begins with a cleaning of the enamel. Then the tooth is shaped to provide a precise and firm fit for the crown. During the reshaping procedure, there may be the need for a minor filling, or the removal of more material to leave a peg-like anchor point for the crown. The amount of your natural tooth that must be removed depends on the type of crown you’re getting and the reason for the restoration. Once the tooth has been shaped, an impression of the tooth is created in order to form the crown. Finally, strong dental cement is used to attach the crown to your tooth. If you are getting same-day porcelain crowns, you have only a 20-minute wait. However, for metal and PFM crowns you may need to wait up to a few weeks to have your permanent crown fitted.
Protecting & Caring for Your Dental Crowns
You can expect your crown to last from 5 to 15 years. Like natural teeth, your oral hygiene and upkeep can determine how long a crown will last. Our dentists at My Dentist at Morgan Creek believe that there are some things you should be doing in order to protect your crowns. Firstly, you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day and preferably right after every meal. Regular brushing will help protect your crowns as well as your natural teeth. Secondly, you should avoid hard foods or biting ice since you risk cracking your crown. Finally, if you take part in contact sports like hockey or football, or if you grind your teeth in your sleep, wearing a custom-made mouthguard can definitely protect your crowns as well as the rest of your teeth.
Dental crowns are a great way to improve your smile and create a healthy bite while protecting a damaged, misshapen or stained teeth. If you would like to learn more about dental crowns or find out if they are right for you, contact us online or call My Dentist Office at 604-542-0123 to schedule your consultation.
