When You Might Need a Dental Crown
Crowns solve a variety of dental problems. If you have a tooth with a large filling that’s bigger than the remaining natural tooth structure, a crown prevents the tooth from breaking apart under normal chewing pressure. Teeth with significant decay that extends too deep for a simple filling also benefit from crowns, which remove the decay and protect the remaining healthy tooth.
Cracked or fractured teeth are prime candidates for dental crowns. Even hairline cracks can worsen over time without protection, eventually splitting the tooth completely. A crown holds everything together and distributes chewing forces evenly across the tooth surface.
After root canal treatment, teeth become more brittle because they no longer have a blood supply nourishing them from the inside. We typically recommend crowns for root canal-treated teeth to prevent fractures and significantly extend their lifespan. Crowns also complete dental implants by serving as the visible tooth portion that attaches to the implant post.
Sometimes people choose dental crowns for cosmetic reasons, too. If you have a tooth that’s severely discolored, misshapen, or just doesn’t look the way you want it to, a crown can completely transform its appearance while strengthening it at the same time.
Types of Dental Crowns
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns look incredibly natural because the material mimics the translucency and color variations of real tooth enamel. Light passes through porcelain the same way it does through natural teeth, creating depth and dimension that catches light beautifully. These crowns work perfectly for front teeth where aesthetics matter most, though they’re strong enough for back teeth too.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
These crowns combine the strength of metal with the natural appearance of porcelain. A metal substructure provides durability, while a porcelain outer layer creates a tooth-colored surface. They’re incredibly strong and have been used successfully for decades, though all-porcelain options have become more popular as materials have improved.
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia offers the best of both worlds—the natural appearance of porcelain with exceptional strength that rivals metal. This material resists chips and cracks extremely well, making it an excellent choice for back teeth that handle heavy chewing forces. Zirconia crowns also resist staining and maintain their appearance for years.
We will recommend the best material for your specific situation based on which tooth needs the crown, your bite patterns, and your aesthetic preferences.
The Dental Crown Process
Getting a crown sometimes requires more than one visit to our Silver Spring office, and we offer same-day crowns for certain cases. During your first appointment, we prepare the tooth by removing any decay and reshaping it to accommodate the crown. This creates room for the crown to fit over it without looking bulky.
We use digital scanning technology to capture precise impressions of your prepared tooth and the surrounding teeth. This eliminates those uncomfortable, goopy molds that make people gag. The digital images get sent to our dental lab, where skilled technicians craft your custom crown to fit perfectly and match your natural teeth.
While your permanent crown is being made, you’ll wear a temporary crown that protects your tooth and lets you eat and speak normally. These temporary crowns aren’t as strong as permanent ones, so you’ll want to avoid really hard or sticky foods during this waiting period.
When your permanent dental crown arrives—usually in about two weeks—you’ll return for your second appointment. We check the fit, shape, and color carefully before cementing it permanently in place. We’ll make any necessary adjustments to ensure your bite feels comfortable and natural. After some final polishing, you’re done and ready to use your restored tooth just like any other.
Same-Day Crown Technology
For patients who prefer to complete treatment in one visit, we offer same-day dental crowns using advanced CAD/CAM technology. We prepare your tooth and take digital impressions just like with traditional crowns, but instead of sending the data to an outside lab, we design and mill your crown right here in our office.
You can watch your crown being created from a solid block of ceramic material in about an hour. Once it’s ready, we bond it permanently to your tooth—all in a single appointment. This option works great for people with busy schedules who can’t easily return for multiple visits.
Caring for Your Dental Crowns
Crowned teeth need the same care as natural teeth. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss every day, and visit us for regular cleanings and checkups. The crown itself can’t get cavities since it’s not made of tooth structure, but the natural tooth underneath, where the crown meets your gum line, remains vulnerable to decay without proper hygiene.
Avoid using your crowned teeth as tools to open packages or crack nuts. While dental crowns are very strong, extreme force can chip or crack them just like it would damage natural teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, wearing a nightguard protects both your crowns and your natural teeth from excessive wear.
Most dental crowns last 10 to 15 years or longer with good care. Regular dental visits let us monitor your crowns and catch any issues early, ensuring they continue functioning beautifully for as long as possible.
Invest in Your Smile’s Future
Damaged teeth don’t have to mean extraction and tooth loss. Dental crowns restore strength, function, and beauty to compromised teeth, giving them many more years of reliable service. At Kraja and Sidhu Dental, Dr. Kraja and Dr. Sidhu combine precision craftsmanship with advanced technology to create crowns that look natural and perform flawlessly. Stop living with broken, painful, or unsightly teeth—contact our Silver Spring office today to schedule your crown consultation and discover how this proven treatment can protect your smile for decades to come!