Dental crowns or caps are restorations designed to protect or preserve teeth that are broken, decayed or otherwise damaged. Crowns are also commonly mounted to dental implant posts and attached to dental bridges to replace missing teeth. Like dental veneers, crowns fit over the surface of the teeth. However, veneers are something you choose to have placed and crowns are something you need to have placed. They prolong the life of teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
If you are looking for a team that places dental crowns in Palo Alto, Kris Hamamoto D.D.S. & Associates would be happy to discuss your options. We are known in the Bay Area for placing top quality crowns that look and feel great.
Do You Need a Dental Crown?
You may need a dental crown if you have:
- A badly cracked or fractured tooth
- A weak tooth that needs protection to prevent additional damage
- Tooth decay that is too extensive to be treated with a filling, inlay or only
- A dental implant post that needs an artificial tooth
- A missing tooth that is being replaced with a dental bridge
- Undergone a root canal
Placing Dental Crowns
Traditional dental crowns require at least two appointments for the design and delivery process. During the first appointment, one of our Palo Alto dental crowns dentists will examine the affected tooth or teeth and determine the extent of the damage or decay. The dentist will prepare the tooth by removing decay or damaged material and filing the tooth down to make room to accommodate the crown. Impressions and photographs will be taken of your mouth to send to the dental laboratory that constructs the crown accordingly. The color of the crown will also be selected so that it matches your surrounding natural teeth or restorations. At the end of this visit, we will place a temporary crown over the prepared tooth to protect it while the final restoration is being crafted.
Once the permanent crown is ready, our dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the new crown over the prepared tooth. They will check the crown against your bite and can make any modifications that are needed. Finally, the permanent crown will be cemented into place.
Adjusting to Your New Dental Crown
There might be a slight adjustment period as you get used to your new crown. After that, it should look and feel great in your mouth and support proper chewing and biting function.
Crowns can be brushed and flossed like natural teeth. They should not bite or chew hard foods or objects, which could damage the crown material. If you know that you grind or clench your teeth, we might recommend having a customized mouthguard fitted to protect your crown and natural teeth.
Learn More about Dental Crowns in Palo Alto
To learn more about how dental crowns can preserve damaged or decayed teeth, you are welcome to contact Kris Hamamoto and our team of Bay Area dentists. Call or email us today to book an informational consultation.
