What Are Dental Crowns?

Safe, Strong, Attractive Tooth Restorations

What are dental crowns?

A crown is a replacement for the entire outside of your tooth. It preserves the inside of your natural tooth, and is made to look, feel, and act just like your natural tooth.

When are dental crowns necessary?

Dental crowns are used when there is significant damage to a tooth or when it is very weak. For instance:

• When metal fillings have damaged the tooth
• When the area of damage or decay is too large for other restorations
• When the tooth is very weak or brittle
• When old fillings have failed
• After a root canal

Why use porcelain instead of a gold crown or other materials?

You may not notice it in the mirror, but even in the back of your mouth, unsightly restorations are visible when you talk and laugh. Porcelain looks, feels, and acts just like your natural tooth enamel, and creates a more durable crown.

Will a dental crown feel bulky or make it difficult to chew properly?

No. Your crown will be precisely matched to the shape of your natural tooth and crafted to line up perfectly with your opposing teeth. In fact, you will probably chew easier with your crown because you will be out of pain.

Will I have to change my diet to maintain my crown?

No. Porcelain is very strong, durable, and resistant to staining. You can eat your normal foods with a porcelain dental crown.

I have heard a lot of horror stories about crowns popping off. Will that happen to me?

No. This was a common problem in the past, and it can happen for several reasons:

• Imprecise fit
• Poorly seated crown
• Poor alignment with opposing teeth causing inappropriate pressure on the crown

Passaic Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Green uses precise technology to craft a perfectly fit crown that seats fully. As a Neuromuscular Dentist, he also makes sure that it will work properly with your opposing teeth and can address any misalignment of your bite, so that there is no extra wear and pressure on the crown.

Why not just pull the tooth instead?

We can do that. It’s up to you. Dr. Green believes in providing the solutions you want, rather than the solutions he personally prefers. It is best to preserve your natural tooth whenever possible. For one thing, it helps to prevent bone and gum shrinkage which lead to facial collapse. If you choose to have the tooth removed, you will want to consider your tooth replacement options to prevent future dental damage.

Learn more by reading our Cosmetic Dentistry and Metal-Free Practice pages. Please contact our Passaic cosmetic dentistry office today for your free dental crown consultation. Dr. Green serves cosmetic dentistry patients in Caldwell, West Essex, Essex County, Morris County, and Passaic County, New Jersey.