DENTAL CROWNS –
NORTHWEST HOUSTON, TX

Acadian Family Dental
Dr. Perkins & Dr. Driver

Crowns are permanent dental restorations that improve your ability to chew food. They distribute the forces of chewing. By protecting the tooth structure underneath, crowns allow you to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to have your dentist put on a dental crown. This is a tooth-shaped cap that’s fitted to be placed over your tooth. The goal of a crown is to restore the strength, size, and shape of a tooth. When cemented into place, a crown covers the entire visible portion of a tooth including the area that lies at and above your gum line.

The need for crowns falls into two very broad categories: protective and cosmetic.

Only a dentist can tell for sure if you need a dental crown. You may need one to:

• Cover dental implants
• Protect a weak tooth from breaking
• Add support to an already broken tooth
• Cover a severely discolored tooth
• Make cosmetic modifications
• Hold a dental bridge in its proper place

Dental crowns are available in a range of materials, including porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, metal alloys and gold. You may wish to choose a porcelain or fused porcelain crown for a tooth that is visible when you smile. The other materials are often used on molars because of their enhanced strength.

Protective Dental Crowns

Large cavities can sometimes leave behind inadequate tooth structure to properly support fillings. In this case a crown can serve to cover the afflicted tooth.

Other interventions, such as root canals, can result in weakened teeth that require the protection of a crown. Cracks and chips can also be shielded by a crown to prevent further damage.

Cosmetic Dental Crowns

Some crowns are purely cosmetic in nature. They can be used to bridge a gap between teeth, to conceal a dental implant or to cover a misshapen or severely discolored tooth.

Crowns look and feel like natural teeth and can improve your smile and increase your self-confidence.

How the Dental Crown Procedure Works

The dentist prepares your tooth by shaping it with small dental tools. Impressions of your tooth are taken and sent to the dental lab. The customized crown is sent to the dentist. The crown is cemented onto your natural tooth and fixed into place.

How to Care for Your Dental Crown

Once you’re fitted for a dental crown, there are a few things you can do to get the maximum life out of it. When cared for properly, you can expect your crown to last between 10 and 15 years. One of the most important things you can do is let the casement around your dental crown fully set, which usually takes around 24 hours. During this time, avoid chewing on hard foods. To increase the life of your crown, engage in proper oral hygiene including:

• Brushing your teeth regularly
• Flossing to remove tartar and plaque buildup
• Using mouth rinse at least once a day

Using mouth rinse is an important part of dental hygiene. This substance is designed to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth. The best time to use mouth rinse is at night right before bed.

In addition to providing Dental Crowns to patients in Northwest Houston, TX and the surrounding areas, we also offer the following restorative dentistry services: Dental Bridges, Root Canals, Periodontal Treatment and Bruxism & TMJ Treatment.

(713) 766-5804
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