Oral Facial Pain and TMJ Treatment

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth to restore its shape and size and improve its strength and appearance. It is usually bonded to the tooth using dental cement.

Dental crowns can be made from different materials depending on a patient's preference and their dentist's recommendation. Some common materials that are used include gold, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), all-porcelain, or zirconia. Porcelain and zirconia are premium materials that offer the most natural-looking results. Zirconia is also the strongest material for dental crowns and is often used for molars due to the extra biting force placed on those teeth. Gold and PFM are typically used when the tooth has a cavity underneath, as these materials do not hold heat as well. These metals are also used in back teeth, where aesthetics are not as much of a concern.

A tooth that has been treated with a large dental filling or is badly decayed may require a crown for support. You may also need a crown after a root canal to restore a tooth's function and appearance. Crowns are also used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of teeth that are poorly shaped, discolored, or misaligned.

If you're missing one or more teeth, crowns may be attached to a dental implant to fill the space and restore your smile.

The lifespan of a porcelain crown is typically around 15 years with proper care. In fact, it's common for crowns to last upwards of 20 years. They can become loose, however, if proper oral hygiene isn't practiced or if you have habits like grinding or chewing on hard foods.

Dental crown placement is non-invasive and non-surgical, so the treatment isn't any more painful than a typical cavity filling. The area around the tooth that is being trimmed for placement is typically numbed so that you are comfortable throughout the process.

You shouldn't require any downtime after getting a crown placed, and you should be able to return to your normal activities immediately after your appointment. You may, however, experience some discomfort for a few days after treatment, including:

• Inflammation
• Sensitivity
• Irritation

Caring for a dental crown is much like caring for your natural teeth and includes:

• Brushing twice per day
• Flossing once per day
• Getting dental exams and professional cleanings
• Avoiding hard and sticky foods
• Breaking habits like grinding, clenching, and chewing on objects

Same-day crowns are dental crowns that are created and placed on the same day a patient comes in for an appointment. They eliminate the need for temporary restoration while the patient waits for their permanent restoration to be made in a dental lab. These restorations offer a number of benefits to patients, including:

• Restorations are completed in as little as one appointment
• Fewer office visits are required
• Patients don't have to wait weeks for their finished restorations
• No messy dental impressions are required
• Preparation is minimally invasive and doesn't involve any drilling or pain when placing the crown
• Stronger and more durable than traditional lab-made crowns
• Perfect for treating teeth that have suffered extensive damage from decay or trauma
• Can be used to restore a single tooth, multiple teeth, or a full set of teeth
• More natural looking than traditional crowns because of the CEREC machine's ability to create beautiful ceramic restorations that match the color of natural teeth.

No, you don't. With CEREC technology, your restorations are made during a single visit to our dental practice. First, we prepare your tooth by removing any decay and reshaping it so that the crown will fit properly. Then, we take a digital impression of the tooth for your same-day crown to be made with an in-house milling machine. Once your restoration is ready, our dentist will bond the new restoration to your tooth using a special adhesive that doesn't require any curing to set. The entire process takes about two hours, including your appointment time.