Boynton Beach Office:
Enhancing and Revitalizing Your Smile
Dental crowns serve as cosmetic restorations that repair and reinforce weakened or damaged teeth at Modern Dental Smiles in Boynton Beach. They frequently address fractures, wear, or decay needing extra stability and shielding.
Crowns encase the tooth's visible portion above the gums, functioning as a durable new exterior. Cemented in place, they deliver enduring strength and resilience.
When Crowns or A Fillings Needed
A dental filling repairs minor decay by plugging a small cavity with composite resin. A dental crown is a protective "cap" that fully covers a severely damaged or weakened tooth. While fillings address small holes, crowns restore structural integrity, preventing further breakage and preserving the tooth’s long-term health.
Why Large Fillings Failed (Composite)
Large fillings often fail because they lack the structural support of a natural tooth. Over time, the remaining thin walls of the tooth can crack under the pressure of chewing. Additionally, large fillings can shrink or expand, creating gaps where bacteria enter, leading to new decay or "leaking."
Why Large Fillings Failed (Amalgam)
An amalgam filling is a durable restorative material made from a mixture of metals, including silver, tin, and copper, bound by mercury. It is used to fill cavities caused by decay. Because it is highly resistant to wear, it has been a dental standard for over a century.
Crown Prep with Core Buildup
A crown prep with core buildup is a restorative process where a damaged tooth is first reinforced with a specialized filling material (the core) to replace missing structure. Once a solid foundation is created, the tooth is reshaped (prepped) to allow a custom crown to fit securely over it.
Single Crown
A single crown is a custom-made restoration designed to cover a single damaged or decayed tooth down to the gumline. Unlike a bridge, which replaces missing teeth, a single crown preserves your natural tooth root by reinforcing its structure, restoring its original shape, and improving its overall appearance.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Temporary Crown
Temporary crown post-operative instructions are essential guidelines to prevent the short-term restoration from dislodging or breaking. By avoiding sticky foods and sliding floss out sideways, you protect the prepared tooth and maintain gum health until the permanent, high-strength crown is ready for final placement.
If You Have A Crown and it doesn't Fit Right
A poorly fitted crown is a restoration that fails to align with your natural bite or seal correctly at the gumline. This creates "high spots" that cause pain when chewing or gaps (micro-leakage) that allow bacteria to seep underneath, leading to sensitivity, jaw discomfort, or secondary tooth decay.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Crown
Post-operative instructions for a crown are essential care steps followed after the final placement of a restoration. These include waiting for anesthesia to wear off before eating, avoiding sticky foods for 24 hours, and monitoring your bite to ensure the crown is properly balanced and comfortable.
Crown Materials
Dental crowns can be crafted from various materials, such as:
- Porcelain: Chosen for its lifelike look, replicating natural tooth translucency while offering excellent durability.
- Metal: Renowned for superior strength and lifespan, ideal for rear teeth enduring heavy chewing forces.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: Merging durability and aesthetics, this provides robustness with a realistic appearance.
When Do You Need Crowns?
Crowns become necessary when insufficient tooth structure remains to hold a filling. Distinct from fillings inserted straight into cavities, crowns get custom-fabricated in a lab from tooth impressions.
For severely decayed, fractured, or compromised teeth, crowns offer the optimal way to reinstate function and aesthetics.
Crown Procedure Steps
The crown fabrication starts by capturing an impression of your tooth, enabling the dental lab technician to study your bite and jaw motion. This data guides the creation of a precisely fitted crown. The aim ensures seamless bite and jaw function post-placement, delivering comfort and peak efficiency.
