Could a crown be the solution to your smile problem? Our dentist can use dental crowns in Vancouver, Washington, in a number of different ways to improve the health and even the appearance of your smile. If you would like to meet with Dr. Vaughn Teuscher for more information, call Two Rivers Dentistry at 360-256-1202 today.
My philosophy for crowns is this: A tooth can only be filled so many times. When there is not enough tooth structure to fill, or there are cracks/fractures, a root canal has been completed, or significant decay present, then a crown is indicated. In my experience, being proactive and placing a crown will save the tooth and provide many years of service. This is especially true in teeth with cracks that extend vertically or horizontally down to the gum line and there is a risk it may progress onto the root causing root fracture and loss of the tooth. Some of the gold restorations my Father (dentist) placed over 60-70 years ago are still in service in a few of my patients.
Currently, we are using lab fabricated LAVA plus Zirconia for our crowns, and they are done digitally in the lab. This is a tooth-colored material very closely mimicking the look of teeth that is hard like gold and is resistant to chipping or breaking like the old porcelain fused to metal crowns we had done for many years. In addition, it does not wear the opposing teeth like the old porcelain crowns did. I choose to have my lab specialist customize each crown for that particular patient, and it is sent to another lab to print on a million-dollar milling machine. On particularly difficult anterior teeth, he can come to the office and do a custom shade match with custom staining and glazing for a better match. I feel strongly that this lab fabricated crown is far superior than the “same day” crowns that some offices are doing.
Dental crowns are multipurpose restorations, usually recommend to restore teeth after significant damage or as a part of another restoration. Crowns are made to match your bite and smile, restoring both your ability to eat and speak as well as your appearance. Crowns can be used in a variety of ways, including:
- Capping and completing a dental implant
- Anchoring a dental bridge
- Supporting a large filling
- Sealing a tooth after root canal treatment
- Protecting a fractured or injured tooth
- Improving the appearance of a tooth
Receiving a dental crown will generally take two visits to our office. At the first, we will prepare the tooth and take impressions to make sure the crown will fit snugly. Then, we will create the actual restoration, giving you a temporary crown until it is finished. Once done, the crown will be placed by our dentist and team at your next appointment to finish the restoration.
If you would like to learn more about dental crowns and get started on your treatment, contact us today!