Dental Crowns in Sunbury

Dental crowns are caps that are fabricated out of durable or aesthetic materials which cover a tooth on all sides. 

Oftentimes, crowns are used for protection. When teeth have been damaged, cracked, weakened from root canal treatment, or are missing a lot of structure because of a large cavity, a crown can reinforce the strength of that tooth with durable and long-lasting materials. 

A crown can also be used for cosmetic purposes to cover up severe discoloration or a minor chip on the tooth.

Crowns are used to complete other tooth restorations as well. Crowns complete implant restorations when they are attached to the abutment and they anchor dental bridges to suspend a pontic tooth between them.

We exclusively use lab-made crowns at Shine Dental due to their versatility in application and materials. 

Some dental practices offer CEREC crowns which can be placed on the same day, but these are limited in their ability to treat severe damage and weakened teeth, as they can only be fabricated out of ceramic, which is a fragile material best suited for cosmetic problems. 

With an entire lab and lab specialists at our disposal, we can customize a dental crown to meet the individual needs of each of our patients. Severe damage and large cavities? Metal or zirconia offers superior strength and durability. 

Want to cover up a cosmetic issue at the front of the mouth? We can use highly aesthetic porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal to offer the best combination of aesthetics and strength.

Dental crowns have variable lifespans depending on the materials they’re made from, their location, and your lifestyle. Let’s begin with materials – the more durable the material, the longer it will last. Metal alloy and zirconia crowns can last for up to 20 years. 

Porcelain-fused-to-metal enjoys a slightly shorter lifespan of 10 to 15 years while the more aesthetic yet fragile materials like ceramic or porcelain last for 5 to 15 years. When you are placing a dental crown, location is paramount. 

The rear molars withstand significant chewing and grinding forces which will require stronger and more durable crowns like metal or zirconia. If you place fragile crowns like porcelain in these teeth, they will have a much shorter lifespan or even break. 

We recommend that you reserve purely aesthetic crowns for the front teeth which are not used for chewing. To extend the lifespan of your crowns, you need to practice good oral hygiene and reduce wear and tear. 

This means wearing a mouthguard if you suffer from bruxism, only using a soft bristle toothbrush, avoiding hard and sticky foods, and not using your teeth to open things. Smoking and staining foods and drinks can also stain your crowns, so these should be limited.

Dr. Miller will meet with you for a consultation to examine your teeth. X-rays may be taken to rule out oral health problems. We will discuss your concerns about your tooth and what materials would be ideal.

Then, she will file down your tooth all around the different surfaces to create the ideal shape and size to fit inside of a crown. Digital scans are taken of your tooth and sent to a dental lab that will create a tailor-made crown for your mouth. A shade guide is taken to match your crown to your natural teeth.

Since crown fabrication takes a few weeks, we’ll place a temporary crown over your tooth for protection and aesthetics. Once your official crown has arrived at our office, we’ll call you back for a fitting and cement it to the tooth. After we polish the tooth, you’re all done!