Porcelain Dental Crowns in Waterbury: Rebuild Your Smile
If you're self-conscious about your smile due to cracked, broken, decayed or worn teeth, we can bring back your healthy, natural-looking smile with porcelain dental crowns. While a filling can fix a small defect in a tooth, a crown is actually the most durable and reliable way to restore one with extensive damage, front or back, for the long term. Plus, with all the materials and techniques modern dentistry has to offer, crowns can now be completely natural-looking. If you’re ready to get your complete smile back, please contact us today for an appointment.
What is a Porcelain Dental Crown?
A dental crown is actually a tooth-shaped restoration that simply fits over the top and fully encases a natural tooth. They are typically used to repair teeth, enhance their appearance, as well as protect them from any further damage. While crowns can be made of a variety of materials, our practice prefers to use all-porcelain crowns whenever we can as they provide the most lifelike solution while being just as strong as real enamel. Another advantage of using porcelain is that it can be specially shaded to match the color of a patient’s teeth to make it blend in more seamlessly.
With porcelain dental crowns, we can:
- Fully restore chipped, cracked, broken, or decayed teeth
- Repair a tooth that has been fixed using multiple fillings
- Strengthen a tooth that has become weak over time
- Make a small or misshapen tooth appear more uniform
- Close spaces between the teeth
- Straighten slightly misaligned teeth
- Correct bite alignment issues
- Eliminate stains that are resistant to bleaching
- Replace missing teeth as part of a bridge or dental implant.
What is the Procedure Like?
The process to get a dental crown typically involves at least two visits to our Waterbury office. At the first one, either Dr. Marini or Dr. Mancini will examine your mouth and determine whether or not a dental crown is the best solution to your problem. If it is, the procedure will begin with them gently shaping the tooth so that the crown will fit securely over it. They will then take an impression, and this will be sent to a dental lab to fabricate your crown. While it is being made, you’ll be fitted with a temporary crown.
After a week or so, you’ll return to our office to have your brand new crown placed. Your dentist will first etch your tooth so that the crown will have a good “grip” on it, and then they will use dental cement to finally place it. After making a few adjustments and checking your bite alignment, your new smile will be ready for the world.
Come Get Your Smile Back
Porcelain dental crowns can be used to address a wide variety of issues, but one thing always remains the same: they’re able to give our patients a beautiful, healthy, and most of all, complete smile. Whether you simply need a cavity repaired or want to enhance the overall appearance of your teeth, they provide an effective and trusted solution we use every day.
If you are interested in getting a porcelain dental crown, or if you would like to learn more, please contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Dental Crowns FAQs
Dental crowns in Waterbury are a trusted method of protecting weakened teeth, but it’s normal to have a few concerns about what you can expect. Don’t worry. Your dentist at Waterbury Smiles will explain everything during your consultation to ease any apprehensions. You can also contact our office to speak with a member of our dental team or take a look below at the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
A dental crown isn’t permanent because it will need to be replaced about every 10 years from wear and tear. However, the procedure isn’t reversible because your dentist must reshape your tooth to allow the cap to fit over it. Your tooth will be vulnerable to bacteria, sensitivity, and other damage without the protection of a crown. Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about replacements often with good oral hygiene and regular dental care.
Does Getting a Dental Crown Hurt?
Your dentist in Waterbury will keep your comfort as their top priority. A numbing medication may be used while preparing your tooth for your restoration. You might feel some pressure or unusual sensations, but you won’t have any outright pain. Your tooth may be tender for a few days after the effects of any numbing medications wear off. You can manage it using an OTC pain reliever and eating soft foods. Your dentist will review any additional aftercare instructions before you go home.
Can Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Dental crowns can’t get cavities, but your exposed teeth and underlying tooth are still vulnerable to decay. Poor oral hygiene can cause plaque and tartar to accumulate near your gum line, which harbors bacteria. The pathogens can gain access to your tooth through small cracks that form in the dental cement over time. Besides brushing and flossing, limit your consumption of sugars to promote a cavity-free smile. Don’t forget to schedule a cleaning and checkup every 6 months to keep your mouth healthy.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Your enamel can get whiter from whitening agents seeping into your enamel through pores; however, teeth whitening doesn’t work on dental crowns because they aren’t porous. Your dentist will advise against teeth whitening with dental crowns because it can cause results that look unnatural. Your enamel will get lighter, but your crown will be unchanged. Not to mention, whitening ingredients may weaken the bonding material holding your crown in place. Your cosmetic dentist can create a personalized treatment plan to ensure seamless results, like reshading your crown.