Custom-designed Crowns for a Seamless Smile Restoration
A crown can be the most effective way to restore your dental function and the appearance of your smile. If you have a weakened, cracked, or otherwise damaged tooth, Dr. Chad LaCour may be able to restore it with a dental crown. Dr. LaCour's high-quality, custom-crafted dental crowns are designed to blend in flawlessly with your smile. Your crown will be made from advanced tooth-colored materials that are virtually as strong as metal. Dr. LaCour will also use state-of-art imaging to ensure that your crown fits comfortably and preserves your natural bite alignment. Contact us today to find out if a crown is the right treatment for you.
How Can Crowns Restore Your Smile?
Crowns can perform a diverse array of restorative and, sometimes, cosmetic functions. A crown will completely encase your damaged tooth. Therefore, it can be a great way to cover a cavity that is too large for a routine filling. If you received a filling many years ago, and your tooth has since weakened, a crown may also be a good solution. This type of restoration can also hold together a cracked tooth and improve the force of your bite if you have sustained dental erosion. Your dentist might also use a crown to top a dental implant or support a bridge, replacing one or more missing teeth. Although Dr. LaCour primarily uses crowns for restorative purposes, he may occasionally recommend them for cosmetic reasons. For example, if one of your teeth has severe intrinsic stains, or if you have an unusually shaped tooth, a crown can enhance the look of your smile.
Placing a Crown
To keep your crown from looking bulky and disrupting your bite, Dr. LaCour will first reshape your compromised tooth. He will work conservatively and your tooth will be numb during treatment. As a result, you should experience little more than a slight sense of pressure. Nevertheless, if you are anxious about the treatment, he can also provide moderate dental sedation.
After he has reshaped your tooth, he will take pictures and impressions. In about two weeks, lab technicians at an offsite facility will craft a crown that is virtually identical to your natural teeth. In the meantime, Dr. LaCour will attach a temporary restoration. This provisional crown will allow you to eat with few modifications, and it will reduce dental sensitivity. When the technicians have finished your restoration, you will come in for a second appointment. At this time, Dr. LaCour will attach your new crown.
Advanced, Lifelike Materials
When you receive a crown from Dr. LaCour, you can choose from several highly lifelike materials. In the past, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns were the most popular choice. Made with a metal base and a porcelain shell that will match your teeth, a PFM crown will be very durable. However, the porcelain may eventually begin to wear away, and the underlying metal will give your smile a gray tint. A PFM crown may be a good choice for a back molar. However, if you need to restore a tooth that shows when you smile, we offer several natural-looking options:
- Zirconia
- IPS e.max®
- IPS Empress®
Each of these strong materials is available in numerous lifelike shades. Dr. LaCour and our lab will choose the color that corresponds with your smile. These materials also offer a slight translucence and sparkle, which will make them almost indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Enjoy a Restored Smile in Just Two Appointments
Find out if a crown is the most appropriate way to restore your smile. Schedule an appointment with Dr. LaCour today.