Expert Treatment in Lakeview & Waukegan, IL for Dental Crowns

First, let’s explain just what dental crowns are and what purpose they serve.

Dental crowns are custom-fitted restorative devices designed to cover or “cap” a damaged tooth, restoring it to its normal shape, size, and function. They are typically used when a tooth is significantly decayed, cracked, weakened, or has had a large filling that compromises the tooth’s integrity.

Crowns can also serve cosmetic purposes, improving the appearance of discolored or poorly shaped teeth. By encasing the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line, crowns provide strength, protection, and an improved aesthetic appearance, ensuring the tooth can withstand the rigors of daily chewing and biting.

Types of Dental Crowns

Crowns can be crafted from various materials, including ceramic, metal, or composite resin. However, at Family Dental Care we prefer the use of porcelain crowns for our patients.

Porcelain crowns offer several benefits and advantages, including the following:

• Aesthetic Appeal: Porcelain crowns have a natural, tooth-like appearance. The material can be matched closely to the color of the adjacent teeth, making them an excellent choice for front teeth restorations where cosmetic appearance is crucial.
• Biocompatibility: Porcelain is a biocompatible material, meaning it is well-tolerated by the body and has a low risk of causing an allergic reaction. This makes porcelain crowns a safe option for most patients.
• Durability: Modern porcelain crowns are highly durable and can withstand the forces of chewing, making them suitable for restoring both front and back teeth. While they are not as strong as metal crowns, advances in dental porcelain have significantly improved their resilience and longevity.
• Stain Resistance: Porcelain is resistant to staining, which helps the crowns maintain their color over time, unlike natural teeth that may discolor because of food, drinks, or smoking.
• Conservative Preparation: Porcelain crowns can often be designed to fit over the tooth with minimal removal of the natural tooth structure, especially when compared to full metal crowns. This conserves more of the natural tooth, which is always beneficial for the tooth’s long-term health.
• Gum Health: Porcelain has a smooth surface, which helps to reduce the accumulation of plaque around the crown margins. This can lead to healthier gums around the restored tooth.

In addition to porcelain crowns, CEREC crowns provide similar benefits, with one basic difference. CEREC crowns can be designed, created, and installed in one day using our computer-assisted technology. Another difference is that these crowns are made of ceramic materials instead of porcelain, resin, or metal.

Length of Treatment

You will likely need to make two appointments to fit porcelain dental crowns in place. First, our dental staff must remove any decay, reshape the tooth, and then place a temporary crown until the permanent one can be crafted.

This temporary dental crown is designed to help you keep the functionality of your teeth until your permanent crown can be created and placed on your tooth.

At the second appointment, you will be fitted for the final crown, removing the temporary one and making any necessary adjustments. Once finished, we will cement that crown to your existing structure, so it looks and acts just like your natural teeth.

With your new crown or crowns, you won’t have to worry about what people will think of you when you flash your pearly whites.

If we use Cerec crowns, only one visit will be required. That’s because these dental crowns are created right in our dental offices. You won’t have to wait for us to send them out to an outside lab and then get them back to install the crowns. It can all be done while you wait. Our dental staff will help you decide which type of crown will work best in your situation.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

The average lifespan of dental crowns can be from 5 to 15 years. However, the lifespan of a dental crown can vary widely based on several factors including the material used, the crown’s placement in the mouth, and the patient’s oral hygiene practices. Personal habits – like grinding or clenching teeth, biting fingernails, chewing ice, etc. – are also factors affecting the lifespan of dental crowns.

With excellent oral hygiene practices and regular dental check-ups, some crowns can last much longer, potentially up to 25 years or more. Individuals with dental crowns must maintain good oral hygiene, avoid habits that can damage the crowns, and see their dentist regularly to ensure the longest lifespan for their crowns.

Dental Crowns at Family Dental Care

At Family Dental Care, if your smile doesn’t make you happy, we provide a variety of treatment options to help you achieve a brilliant, radiant smile.

Dental crowns are one of the most popular choices in our Lakeview & Waukegan, IL office because they can be used to fix a vast array of issues. At your first appointment, our dental staff will go over your current oral health and help you decide if this type of dental treatment is the right one for you.

If you need dental crowns, contact our Lakeview or Waukegan, IL clinic today. New patients are always welcome at Family Dental Care, and we look forward to giving you that glowing smile you’ve always wanted!