Crowns are a treatment for a tooth that needs reinforcement to prevent fracture or breakage of the tooth as well as providing esthetics. The dental cap is a tooth shaped prosthetic that is placed over your tooth to cover it and help restore its original shape, size, strength, and appearance. Your tooth might require a crown to:
- Protect it from further damage
- Restore it after a break or fracture
- Cover a large filling
- Cover an implant
- Secure a dental bridge
- Cover a disfigured or severely discolored tooth
This depends on each individual's insurance plan, if they have our in-house insurance, or no insurance. We will look into cost for each patient before treatment is started.
Dr. Gomes-Moore will first perform a thorough examination of your tooth and surrounding area to make sure a crown for your tooth is the right course of action. If she determines this is the right treatment option for you then we will begin by numbing the surrounding area with a local anesthetic, so that you do not feel anything during the procedure. An impression is then taken to make a temporary crown. Then the tooth is prepared for a crown. Another impression is taken to send to the lab to make the crown and the temporary cap is cemented with short-term cement. Two weeks later you will come back in to check the fit and esthetics of the final dental cap and if everything is approved, the final crown is cemented with permanent cement.
If your tooth's crown becomes damaged we can sometimes repair it without having to replace it with a new one. If you notice your tooth's cap is loose or damaged, the first thing you should do is contact our office to schedule an appointment. Our dentist will assess if we can perform dental cap repairs or if you will need a new one. We treat our dental cap repairs on an individual case basis, but typically when a crown fractures it has to be replaced.
Dr. Gomes-Moore makes it a priority that you do not feel anything during the procedure by administering local anesthetic. She will continue to talk with you throughout the procedure to help ensure the local anesthetic is still working and can apply additional numbing agents if needed.
Depending on the individual's oral hygiene, diet, if they come in for routine cleanings/exams and individual health factors can affect the longevity your tooth's crown. Taking these factors into consideration, crowns can last 15+ years!