Dental Crowns
Eagle Mountain, UT
 Teeth are living organs, and like most parts of our body, they may occasionally need protection from impact and stress. Just like we wear protective gear when we play sports, our teeth may need their protective gear. That’s where dental crowns come in. These small but durable covers act as little shields for our teeth, guarding them against breaking, chipping, or unwanted loss. Furthermore, they can also serve as support anchors for dental bridges, covers for dental implants, and even improve the appearance of teeth that have been damaged, chipped, or stained from wear and tear. Here at Ranches Family Dental, we are quite familiar with the advantages of dental crowns and the various ways they can help our patients restore their smile.
Why Would I Need a Dental Crown?
Nearly one in three Americans have had a dental crown placed in their mouth, making this procedure extremely common and routine. Also known as a “dental caps,” or “tooth crown,”, dental crowns serve a variety of purposes, not only cosmetic but also structural. We typically recommend a crown to a patient with any of the following areas of need:
| • |
Root canals. After a root canal, a tooth can become weakened and fragile and may require extra protection from a crown.
|
| • |
Dental fillings. When a tooth becomes severely decayed and has a large amount of filling in it, it may be at increased risk of breaking. A crown will strengthen and protect that tooth.
|
| • |
Dental bridges. A patient who gets a dental bridge will require anchor teeth on either side to hold the bridge in place, and those teeth will get crowns placed over them.
|
| • |
Unattractive teeth. Whether a tooth is stained, eroded, broken, or chipped, a dental crown can make it look healthy and white again while also protecting it.
|
| • |
Dental implants. A Dental Implant will require a crown to lend it a natural appearance. |
Depending on which tooth needs the crown and the location of the tooth - combined with the purpose the crown will serve - we have a variety of materials from which we will choose for your dental crown. These include all-metal crowns, ceramic or porcelain crowns, and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
Metal crowns are great for “biting” teeth like molars, and it’s better used in places that won’t be seen. Gold is quite strong and a popular choice, and requires very little amount of tooth to be removed before it can be inserted. Ceramic and porcelain crowns are better for your front teeth because they can match your surrounding teeth and look natural and are a good option for patients with metal allergies. However, they’re fragile and brittle, so they’re not good for molars. Lastly, porcelain-fused-to-metal provide the durability of metal crowns with the appearance of ceramic crowns, but they do run the risk of becoming visible as your gums recede.
When we fit a patient with a crown in our office, we start by taking an impression of your tooth to make sure it's a good fit. Your tooth will be shaped, either filed down or built up, to fit the crown. Once our lab receives that mold, they’ll start making your crown and will have it ready within two or three weeks. While you wait for your crown, we’ll fit you with a temporary crown to act as a placeholder. Once your crown returns to us, we’ll call you in for your final fitting, then cement the crown into place.
Learn more about dental crowns.
If you require a crown, or if you have questions about crowns that you’d like to ask us, please call us here at Ranches Family Dental at (385) 374-0500. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have about crowns and help you schedule an appointment for an exam and consultation for this common and beneficial procedure. |
