Dental Crowns

Dental Crowns in Spotsylvania

If you have one or more teeth that are damaged or decayed, you may need a dental crown. Smile Lake Anna offers dental crowns for our patients in Spotsylvania, VA, to help restore the appearance of your tooth and get you back to enjoying life again.

We offer permanent crowns to restore your teeth and keep them strong and healthy.

What Are Dental Crowns?

A crown is a type of cap that covers the chewing surface of the teeth. It protects the weak tooth from further damage when dental fillings don’t solve the problem.

Two types of crowns are available: porcelain crowns and metal crowns. Porcelain crowns are made out of high-quality ceramic material and are usually preferred by patients who want to restore their teeth without sacrificing the aesthetics of their smiles. Metal crowns, including gold crowns, are often used on the posterior teeth (back teeth) since they can’t be seen when you smile.

Dental crowns are often used alongside dental bridges as part of a dental restoration treatment plan.

Who needs dental crowns?

You may need a dental crown if:

You have one or more cracked or broken teeth
You have decayed teeth from gum disease and infection

To protect a weak tooth from breaking
You’ve had several fillings placed on the same tooth and they are no longer working

The Benefits of Getting a Teeth Crown

A crown can provide several benefits to patients who require them. Some of these include:

Protecting the Natural Tooth Structure

When a patient has a cavity or other type of decay in their tooth, they often end up with a hole in the center of the tooth. This allows bacteria to enter the pulp chamber and cause infection. When this happens, the tooth will eventually become infected and need to be removed. However, when a dental crown is used, it protects the natural tooth structure and prevents the tooth from being exposed to additional damage.

Restoring Appearance

The primary function of a crown is to restore injured or damaged teeth, but depending on the type of crown, they also offer aesthetic benefits. They fit over your existing natural tooth and correct discoloration, misshapen teeth, chips, cracks, and fractures.

Improving Bite Function

When a tooth is decayed, the bite function of the mouth can become compromised. In some cases, a person may experience pain while chewing food or even during brushing or flossing. By placing a dental crown, the bite function can be improved.

How does the procedure look like

In order to place a dental crown, our dental professional will first prepare the area where the crown will go by removing the decayed portion of the tooth. Next, we make a mold of the prepared tooth so that we can accurately reproduce the shape of the tooth. You may need a temporary crown while the permanent crown is being made. When your new crown comes in, we take off the temporary crown and carefully fit the permanent crown over the prepared tooth.

Caring for Your Dental Crown

After receiving a crown, there are a few things you should know about caring for your new restoration:

Make sure to brush and floss as usual after every meal.
Avoid eating hard foods like nuts and popcorn.
Keep up with regular dental care by scheduling your check-ups at least every six months.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Clark Today

If you are interested in learning more about our dental services and what we can do for you, visit our dental practice today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michael Clark. We offer a number of restorative dental procedures, and we can help you figure out which one works best for you. We look forward to helping you achieve optimal oral health!